As a lifelong space enthusiast who has spent countless nights gazing at the moon with childlike wonder, this latest development from NASA sends my heart soaring! The idea of establishing a Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC) feels like a dream come true.
NASA has shared plans to eventually create a standardized time system for the Moon.
Labeled as “Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC),” this new time system will be calculated based on an average of atomic clocks stationed on the moon, much like how Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) for Earth is regulated. As of now, the specific locations of these atomic clocks on the moon are undecided, but calculations suggest they may appear to run slightly faster by microseconds each day. The implementation of LTC will facilitate the development of a lunar ecosystem compatible with others in our solar system and ensure the safety of astronauts during future missions despite time differences.
To give you an idea, a hummingbird’s wings beat approximately 50 times every second. Each flap lasts around 0.02 seconds, which is the same as 20,000 microseconds. So, even though 56 microseconds might appear insignificant, when dealing with measurements in space, these small fractions of time can accumulate significantly.
In simple terms, Cheryl Gramling, NASA’s lead on lunar position, navigation, timing, and standards, stated that it takes just about 56 microseconds for something moving at the speed of light to cover a distance equivalent to around 168 football fields. This means that if someone is orbiting the Moon, from an Earth-based perspective, not taking relativity into account over a day, they would think the orbiting astronaut appears to be about 168 football fields away from their actual position.
By the end of 2026, the Low-Earth Transportation Concept (LTC) will be set up and managed by NASA under the guidance of their Space Communication and Navigation (SCaN) program. This initiative has been specifically tasked by the White House to reach its completion.
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2024-09-15 10:55