Yesterday, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) introduced H.R. 2313, the Celestial Time Standardization Act, a bill to establish a time standard for the Moon and other celestial bodies to improve interoperability in space exploration.
While Earth uses Coordinated Universal Time to standardize and synchronize timing, the Moon and other celestial bodies currently lack their own timing standard.
“Time discrepancies between the Moon and other celestial bodies can present significant challenges for precision navigation and scientific research. The Celestial Time Standardization Act will help drive space exploration, expand our knowledge of the known universe, and further establish U.S. leadership on the international stage,” McClellan said.
The bill directs the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to:
- develop celestial time standardization, including the study, definition and implementation of a coordinated lunar time;
- coordinate with the Departments of Commerce, Defense, State, and Transportation and consult with the private sector, academia, international standards-setting bodies, and international partners; and
- brief Congress within two years of enactment describing a strategy for celestial time standardization
The bill passed the U.S. House with bipartisan support last Congress as part of the NASA Reauthorization Act, and was also included in the Senate Commerce Committee’s NASA Transition Authorization Act introduced on March 11, 2025.
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Rebecca Barnabi
