NASA has been tasked by the White House to create a time zone for the Moon called Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC). This initiative aims to establish a consistent standard time for the Moon and other celestial bodies, streamlining timekeeping for future space missions and scientific endeavors. NASA's proposal for LTC is intended to support international lunar missions and is seen as the 'international standard' for timekeeping in space. Currently, NASA is proposing the use of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) as the standard time on the Moon to synchronize activities and communication between Earth and the lunar base. The development of a moon-centric clock is seen as important for safety and accuracy as NASA, private companies, and space agencies around the world launch missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. The European Space Agency has also emphasized the need for a common lunar reference time. The implementation of LTC will be crucial for ensuring accurate data transfers between spacecraft, communications between Earth and lunar satellites, and mapping and locating positions on or orbiting the Moon. The LTC will be tied to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and will enable cislunar operations. The development of a unified lunar time standard will require international agreements and coordination with existing standards bodies and the 43 countries that have signed the Artemis Accords, excluding China and Russia. In response, China plans to develop its own lunar timekeeping system by 2028, which will include a proposed network of 21 satellites to provide navigation support for its lunar ambitions. On the Moon, time moves 56 microseconds faster every day compared to Earth due to the weaker gravitational pull. To address this, NASA is working on developing a moon-centric clock that will provide a frame of reference for timekeeping on the Moon. The new clock will be crucial for scientific discovery, economic development, and international collaboration in space. It will enable more precise spacecraft operations and communication, as well as support precision navigation and science. The implementation of a unified time standard is necessary to address Gravitational Time Dilation, which affects the passage of time under different gravitational conditions. Time dilation is crucial for future space travel to other celestial bodies to ensure coordination with mission controllers on Earth. The Biden administration wants a unified lunar time standard to address safety issues in the privatized space race. The physics of time measurement in space are different, with Earth-based clocks appearing to lose about 56 microseconds per Earth-day for a person on the Moon. Atomic clocks on the Moon may be needed to set lunar time. NASA is expected to deliver a strategy for implementing the Coordinated Lunar Time by the end of 2026, in collaboration with various U.S. government departments. The next manned mission to the Moon, originally scheduled for November 2024, has been delayed until 2025. [efadea94]
NASA's decision to create a lunar time zone has sparked discussions about how Jewish space travelers would observe religious practices. The Jewish calendar is based on the sun, but the sun rises and sets at unusual times on the moon. Jewish law experts have debated how to adapt prayer times and observance of Shabbat and holidays for lunar residents. However, some argue that this question is small-minded and detracts from more important discussions about Judaism in space. Timekeeping is an expression of values and can be adapted to fit the unique experiences and needs of astronauts. The author suggests that future space Judaism may be a syncretic blend of adapted ideas, and maintaining some links to Earth time could be important for cultural continuity. [20e0ae5b]