US orders NASA to build first lunar time zone to guide astronauts on the Moon

Yahoo

07-05-2025

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Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways
Ever wondered what time it is on the Moon right now?
That question may soon have an official answer, as the U.S. takes a major step toward creating a lunar time zone.
On April 29, the U.S. House Science, Space and Technology Committee approved the Celestial Time Standardization Act (HR 2313), a bill that directs NASA to lead efforts to develop a consistent and precise lunar time system.
Passed by voice vote, the bill now heads to the full House for further consideration before potentially becoming law.
If enacted, the bill would require NASA to establish a Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC) system that aligns with Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) on Earth but accounts for the unique gravitational and environmental conditions on the Moon.
With the Artemis program pushing toward a permanent lunar presence, such a standard is no longer a sci-fi fantasy but an operational necessity.
Lunar time must reflect gravity
Unlike Earth, the Moon's gravity is much weaker, affecting how time passes on its surface.
According to general relativity, time on the Moon moves about 58.7 microseconds faster per day than it does on Earth.
While minuscule in everyday terms, this discrepancy matters greatly for space navigation and communication systems.
'For something traveling at the speed of light, 56 microseconds is enough time to travel the distance of approximately 168 football fields,' explained Cheryl Gramling, who leads NASA's efforts on lunar positioning and standards, in a NASA feature back in September 2024.
'If someone is orbiting the Moon, an observer on Earth who isn't compensating for the effects of relativity over a day would think that the orbiting astronaut is approximately 168 football fields away from where the astronaut really is.'
Defining LTC
The bill requires NASA to define and implement LTC in collaboration with international standards organizations, academic institutions, and private partners.
Specifically, the time system must be compatible with UTC, accurate enough for high-precision space missions, functional even when contact with Earth is lost, and scalable for use on other celestial bodies like Mars.
NASA confirmed that it is already working on this, following an April directive from the White House.
The agency's Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) program is leading the charge. Lunar time will likely be calculated using a weighted average of atomic clocks placed on or around the Moon.
Bipartisan support signals strong future for Artemis
The bill's smooth passage in committee and bipartisan backing for Artemis reflect strong legislative momentum behind the push to establish long-term infrastructure on the Moon.
During a recent Senate hearing, lawmakers from both parties emphasized the need for continued lunar investment.
'We don't have to make a binary decision of moon versus Mars, or moon has to come first versus Mars,' said NASA Administrator nominee Jared Isaacman, when pressed on his priorities.
His nomination also passed out of the Senate committee, with Sen. Ted Cruz and Sen. Maria Cantwell backing him based on his commitment to Artemis.
'Mr. Isaacman seems to be committed to the current plan for both lander redundancies, Space Launch Systems, and returning to the Moon as fast as possible,' Cantwell noted.
Why lunar time matters more than ever
Historically, lunar missions have relied on mission elapsed time rather than a standardized time zone.
However, as NASA, international agencies, and commercial players prepare for a sustained presence on the Moon, synchronized timekeeping becomes critical for safety and coordination.
With the Artemis program ramping up and the commercial space race accelerating, a unified lunar clock may soon tick in sync with humanity's next giant leap.