As more businesses and nations enter the space race, the White House has instructed NASA to spearhead efforts to assist in creating a standard time for the Moon and other planets in our solar system.
A memo that was recently made public suggests that the new time zone, which would be implemented by the end of 2026, might be known as Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC). There are 29.53 Earth days in a normal lunar day.
A clock on the Moon adds roughly 56 microseconds in comparison to a 24-hour day on Earth because of the Moon's lower gravity. The European Space Agency (ESA) also recently investigated a new possible time zone for the celestial body.
READ MORE: Strange moment skyline lit up by unidentified 'space debris' as rocket launch baffles onlookers
The concept of space explorers utilising a mutually agreed upon time has been around for years. The foreign agency has not made a public announcement on the date of its release, therefore it is uncertain if the United States would accept any request made by the ESA.
“With a shared vision and unity of purpose across departments and agencies, the United States will lead the responsible, peaceful, and sustainable exploration of Cislunar space and application of discoveries in this area,” the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy memorandum stated. “OSTP will lead and support the implementation of this policy and guidance.”
The timeframe in the memorandum suggests that before humans return to the lunar body, the Moon would be in an official time zone. For the first time since 1972, men and women are to be sent to the lunar surface with the Artemis program.
For all the latest on news, politics, sports, and showbiz from the USA, go to The Mirror US.
During the planned Artemis III mission in 2026, NASA plans to land humans close to the Moon's South Pole in order to look for ice deposits and other essential support components.
In addition, the space agency intends to establish a communications network akin to Earth's navigation systems on the moon. Apart from the heightened activities on the lunar surface, NASA is currently finalising the design of its space station, Lunar Gateway, which is anticipated to circle close to the Moon.
Modules for the proposed space station could be sent into orbit as early as 2025, and it is anticipated that it will be operational by 2028. The mission will be a cooperative endeavour by the United States, Europe, Japan, Canada, and the United Arab Emirates, much like the International Space Station.
Artemis III will be the first expedition by humanity to return to the lunar surface in more than 50 years, after two Artemis test missions. By deploying the first humans to investigate the area close to the lunar South Pole, NASA will create history.