Why NASA is preparing to send clocks to the moon before astronauts arrive
In accordance with the laws of physics, seconds over the moon indicate a little faster than the Earth due to gravity differences. According to scientists, one month day on Earth lasts about 56 microsecons shorter than a day. It may sound small, but it is very important in space research.
“According to the Moon, the time should be for the moon when NASA wanders according to the Moon, C Creryl Gramling, leading the position, navigation and timing standards at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. Even nanosanies are counted as descending, using rover, or keeping astronauts safe.
A new month time scale
The White House asked NASA to form a month standard called a coordinated month time (LTC) until the end of 2026, and in the same year, the Astronauts are connected to the land as part of the Artemis program of the Astronauts. The plan involves connecting the ultra -cut atomic clocks in the moon and orbit, and connecting to each other as a coordinated universal time (UTC) in the Earth.
“Everyone should use the same reference or have never solved the problem, Philip said Philip Line from Open Lunar, a non -profit space research group Open Lunar.
Without this standard, navigation errors may extend miles and communication between tasks may fall from synchronization.
Why urgent
The moon will be a busy area. NASA, the European Space Agency and other partners are planning permanent bases, while countries such as China and private companies follow their duties. “It forms the basis of everything we want to do in space, Kez Kevin Coggins from NASA says.
LTC will not only help astronauts in the month. It will also be a plan for Mars and beyond. “We need to do something a month to find out how to do Mars, Gram he says.
For the residents of the next month, even though the life on the month will feel very different, only an agreed system will not be a time period. There, the daylight follows about 14 earth days, followed by two -week darkness.
