Why the White House Wants the Moon to Have Its Own Time Zone

Ever wonder what time it is on the moon? Soon there will be an answer to that question. The White House on Tuesday directed NASA to establish a first-ever unified standard of time for the moon and other celestial bodies by the end of 2026, as part of a push by the U.S. to set international norms in space. The prospect of a lunar time-zone comes as the U.S. and private companies are rushing to send astronauts to the moon in the coming years, some hoping to deliver internet services to the lunar surface and expand exploration efforts. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] A memo from Arati Prabhakar, head of the U.S. Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), confirms that NASA will work with other parts of the U.S. government to devise a plan for a Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC), a standard time reference for lunar spacecraft and satellites that require precise timing for their missions. “U.S. leadership in defining a suitable standard — one that achieves the accuracy and resilience required for operating in the challenging lunar environment — will benefit all spacefaring nations,” the memo said. OSTP Deputy Director for National Security Steve Welby said in a statement that the White House is aiming to establish celestial time standards “for safety and accuracy” as NASA, private companies and international space agencies prepare to launch missions to the moon and other celestial bodies such as Mars.  “A ...
Source: TIME: Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: Uncategorized News Desk Source Type: news