Nations aim to set a universal lunar clock as Moon race intensifies

At a plenary session of the General Conference on Weights and Measures in Paris this October, member states will tackle the creation of a unified lunar time standard, a prerequisite for the expected surge in Moon activities by 2030. Nations such as China and the United States are racing to land crews and harvest resources, and precise timing is critical for lunar navigation and base construction. Relativity predicts that lunar clocks tick about 56 microseconds ahead of Earth clocks each day due to the Moon’s weaker gravity, a variance that could cause significant positioning errors; a one-microsecond slip translates to roughly 300 metres off-target.

Japan's National Institute of Information and Communications Technology research manager Mamoru Sekido highlighted the importance of international cooperation to synchronize satellite clocks from different countries. The discussion will consider two models: a theoretical clock at the Moon’s center of mass versus a real clock placed at the average lunar surface height, the latter mirroring Earth’s time-keeping approach. The outcome will shape how future lunar missions coordinate activities and ensure safety for both robotic and human operations.