The White House has instructed NASA to develop a new time standard for the Moon, known as Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC), by 2026. This move is aimed at establishing an official time reference to aid in guiding future lunar missions as part of the 21st-century space race involving the US, China, Japan, India, and Russia.
According to the directive, NASA will collaborate with various US departments and international partners, particularly those who have signed the Artemis Accords, to implement LTC by December 31, 2026. The creation of LTC is crucial due to Einstein’s theories of relativity, which suggest that time on the Moon moves slightly faster than on Earth because of its weaker gravity. This unique time standard will ensure accurate navigation and communication during missions to the Moon and beyond.
LTC will be synchronized with Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) on Earth, enabling precise scientific endeavors outside the Earth-Moon system. NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to send crewed missions back to the Moon for the first time since the Apollo missions, has Artemis 2 scheduled for September 2025 and Artemis 3 for 2026.
Meanwhile, China has set a goal of landing astronauts on the Moon before 2030, while other nations and private companies also have lunar ambitions. The Moon could potentially serve as a crucial stepping stone on the path to Mars, allowing for the testing of technologies and the utilization of resources that could benefit future human missions to the Red Planet.
As countries and organizations ramp up their efforts in space exploration, the establishment of LTC by 2026 will play a vital role in ensuring the success and coordination of future lunar missions, ultimately paving the way for new discoveries and advancements in space exploration.