Latest news with #CherylGramling
Economic Times
2 days ago
- Science
- Economic Times
Why NASA is preparing to send clocks to the moon before astronauts arrive
A new lunar time scale Live Events Why it's urgent (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Time runs differently on the Moon . And that simple fact is creating a big challenge for NASA and its partners as they prepare to send astronauts back to the lunar surface for the first time in more than 50 the laws of physics, seconds on the Moon tick slightly faster than on Earth because of differences in gravity. According to scientists, a lunar day runs about 56 microseconds shorter than a day on Earth. That might sound tiny, but in space exploration, it matters enormously.'When you're navigating relative to the Moon, time needs to be relative to the Moon,' says Cheryl Gramling, who leads position, navigation, and timing standards at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. Even nanoseconds count when you're landing spacecraft, operating rovers, or keeping astronauts White House has asked NASA to create a lunar time standard called Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC) by the end of 2026, the same year astronauts are due to land as part of the Artemis programme. The plan involves placing ultra-precise atomic clocks on the Moon and in orbit, linked together much like the network that keeps Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) on Earth.'Everyone has to use the same reference, or we haven't solved the problem at all,' says Philip Linden of Open Lunar, a non-profit space research this standard, navigation errors could stretch kilometres, and communications between missions could fall out of Moon is set to become a busy territory. NASA, the European Space Agency, and other partners are planning permanent bases, while countries like China and private companies are eyeing their missions. 'It's foundational for everything we want to do in space,' says NASA's Kevin won't just help astronauts on the Moon. It will also be a blueprint for Mars and beyond. 'We need to do things on the Moon to learn how to do them at Mars,' Gramling future lunar residents, there will be no time zones, just one agreed system, though life on the Moon will feel very different. Daylight there lasts about 14 Earth days, followed by two weeks of darkness.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
Why NASA is preparing to send clocks to the moon before astronauts arrive
Time runs differently on the Moon . And that simple fact is creating a big challenge for NASA and its partners as they prepare to send astronauts back to the lunar surface for the first time in more than 50 years. Under the laws of physics, seconds on the Moon tick slightly faster than on Earth because of differences in gravity. According to scientists, a lunar day runs about 56 microseconds shorter than a day on Earth. That might sound tiny, but in space exploration, it matters enormously. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category 'When you're navigating relative to the Moon, time needs to be relative to the Moon,' says Cheryl Gramling, who leads position, navigation, and timing standards at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. Even nanoseconds count when you're landing spacecraft, operating rovers, or keeping astronauts safe. A new lunar time scale The White House has asked NASA to create a lunar time standard called Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC) by the end of 2026, the same year astronauts are due to land as part of the Artemis programme. The plan involves placing ultra-precise atomic clocks on the Moon and in orbit, linked together much like the network that keeps Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) on Earth. Live Events 'Everyone has to use the same reference, or we haven't solved the problem at all,' says Philip Linden of Open Lunar, a non-profit space research group. Without this standard, navigation errors could stretch kilometres, and communications between missions could fall out of sync. Why it's urgent The Moon is set to become a busy territory. NASA, the European Space Agency, and other partners are planning permanent bases, while countries like China and private companies are eyeing their missions. 'It's foundational for everything we want to do in space,' says NASA's Kevin Coggins. LTC won't just help astronauts on the Moon. It will also be a blueprint for Mars and beyond. 'We need to do things on the Moon to learn how to do them at Mars,' Gramling says. For future lunar residents, there will be no time zones, just one agreed system, though life on the Moon will feel very different. Daylight there lasts about 14 Earth days, followed by two weeks of darkness.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
US orders NASA to build first lunar time zone to guide astronauts on the Moon
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. 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.
