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Lunar Timekeeping: What is it?
SPACE ESSENTIALS
The timekeeping system of the Moon, also known as Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC), is an in-progress initiative to implement a proper and common lunar time zone worldwide to coordinate space operations safely.
While already hypothesised in the 1970s by Dr Kenneth Franklin, it took several decades to be considered again, along with the interrogation of setting unique or multiple time zones on the Moon. The USA ultimately took the lead by asking NASA to establish a unified standard time by 2026, while ESA also started to tackle the difficulties of proposing a joint lunar time zone. Indeed, due to General Relativity and the Moon’s lower mass, time on the Moon passes slightly differently from time on Earth. The difference seems derisory: 58.7 microseconds per day; however, this discrepancy could cost communication, tracking, and navigation accuracy. A lunar clock will consequently need to overcome this challenge, in addition to conveying consensus between the several stakeholders involved in space exploration.
The Lunar Countdown: Why is defining a time on the Moon urgent?
Timing and precise synchronicity are critical components during space activities. The number of space operations in the cislunar environment— that is, on the lunar surface, lunar orbits, and on different positions in space between the Earth and Moon (Lagrange points)—is expected to grow in the following decades, with always more countries involved in joint operations. Defining a common lunar reference time will be essential to coordinate international missions with every space player synchronised in the processes and to relay communication efficiently, even if the connection with Earth is lost. Indeed, while an independent time standard might be desirable for operational purposes, there would likely still be a need to synchronise with Earth time, adding several new aspects to consider, such as a calculated connection to Earth’s Coordinated Universal time. Finally, in addition to the scientific and technical difficulties in proposing a sustainable solution, the definition and application of international agreements will be challenging to concretise and maintain over time as national space agencies and private companies could disagree on the space exploration roadmap execution.
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Further Readings:
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© NeurAstra 2024
This article was first shared with the Open Lunar Foundation.