To require the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to develop celestial time standardization to support future operations and infrastructure on and around the Moon and other celestial bodies other than Earth, and for other purposes.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · June 26, 2024
Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
This bill directs NASA to develop a standardized time system for the Moon and other celestial bodies to support future space exploration and operations. The legislation addresses a technical challenge: the current Coordinated Universal Time used on Earth doesn't work well beyond Earth due to relativistic effects from space and gravity, making it difficult for different spacecraft, lunar bases, and international partners to coordinate safely. NASA must work with other federal agencies like the Departments of Commerce, Defense, and State, as well as private companies, universities, and international standards bodies, to create what's called a "coordinated lunar time" that can be tracked back to Earth time while also functioning independently if contact with Earth is lost. The bill requires NASA to submit a detailed implementation strategy to Congress within two years, including timelines and resources needed. This effort supports the United States' leadership in space exploration under the Artemis program while enabling better compatibility between American and international space operations.
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