NASA should set moon time – “The clocks run faster on the moon”. China, India, Russia, Japan and other countries are also pushing for a stronger presence in space.
A standardized time reference is needed because the Moon has a weaker gravitational pull than Earth due to its lower mass. The project is important because "knowledge of time...is fundamental to the scientific discovery, economic development and international cooperation that form the basis of U.S. leadership in space," says a White House memo.