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This ECI project seeks to address these critical timing needs to develop a system
capability for a “proto”- coordinated lunar time (LTC) scale and determine its
empirical relationship with the standard terrestrial time scale. Complementary
efforts are focused on defining an interoperable framework for communication, PNT,
and auxiliary services in cislunar space (known as LunaNet) or advancing low TRL next
generation highly stable clock technologies (such as the Spaceflight Compatible Optical
Atomic Strontium Ion Clock, or OASIC). This proposed concept is focused on the
development of a low small size, weight, and power (low SWaP) clock ensemble using
flight-rated COTS parts to be deployed on the lunar surface, and the long-distance twoway satellite time transfer (TWSTT) procedure necessary for defining and tracing the
lunar time relationship to UTC. This is a key technological effort because it will establish
a feasible means to close the current gap in lunar timing service infrastructure in the
next 3-5 years. Systems designed to obtain and distribute measurements of proper
lunar time from the lunar surface are needed by lunar PNT systems such as LCRNS.
The steady increase in missions going to the Moon will continue to strain the ground
station infrastructure to meet cislunar missions’ needs for ranging, Doppler, and timing,
when in view. The availability of a timing source providing a stable LTC reference to
users on the lunar surface and in orbit can: 1) improve the navigation solutions of
cislunar and lunar surface missions, when used as a source for the LunaNet PNT
services, thereby unifying the distribution of a common lunar reference system
commensurate with LTC; 2) reduce the timing burden on cislunar users by allowing
them to use lower SWaP receivers, clocks, and processing power since the LTC time
broadcast by the LunaNet Service Provider (LNSP) nodes are orbiting the same central
body, are close by, and can more frequently provide time updates through the one-way
broadcast; 3) serve as the foundation to establish a common time system for the
Moon, analogous to International Atomic Time (TAI) or UTC on Earth.
The decades ahead will witness monumental advances in the exploration of cislunar
space. Following the success of Artemis I and the Commercial Lunar Payload Services
(CLPS), subsequent missions will return astronauts, robotic explorers, and science
instruments to lunar orbit and the lunar surface, with the goal of establishing an
enduring human presence on the Moon and vibrant lunar ecosystem in preparing for
Mars. Critical to these endeavors will be establishing a time system at the
Moon, to perform experiments of fundamental physics, testing predictions of
relativity, and support a permanent presence on the lunar surface and
sustained activities from private industry and government. The establishment of a
Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC) is essential to enable safe navigation in cislunar
space long term and facilitate interoperability between lunar assets and with
Earth. The development and maintenance of a LTC at the moon will mature the
technology and establish the processes necessary build and maintain a system for
Mars. NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) program is working to
enhance and develop new network assets for the Artemis program. The Lunar
Communications Relay and Navigation System (LCRNS) includes a proposed Global
Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)-like constellation of relay satellites to provide
communication and PNT services primarily at the Moon’s South Pole region. The
constellation has three phases of deployment beginning in 2026 and ending in 2029
after the deployment of a minimum of 4 nodes in the constellation. However, the initial
LCRNS node(s) may be limited to mathematically defined offsets from the Earth
standard Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) which could introduce timing errors, since
no proper clock yet exists on the lunar surface to obtain empirical measurements. A
clock or ensemble of clocks on the lunar surface can measure a realized time on
the lunar geoid and be the first to establish LTC for the Moon. Like the GNSS
constellations at Earth, the LCRNS nodes can broadcast the realized LTC time to users
on the surface and in cislunar space around the South Pole. In turn, this capability
will reduce the Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) of user’s receiver, clock, and
processing requirements for time transfer in the same way GNSS receivers are
small and ubiquitous on Earth [5]. The positive outcome to achieve safe navigation
based on realized LTC can not be overstated.
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