Celestial Time Standardization Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 2313
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Science, Technology, Communications
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-04-29: Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-03T20:24:46Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Celestial Time Standardization Act aims to address the challenges of using Earth's Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) in space environments, where relativistic effects (differences in time due to gravity and speed) make it unreliable. It directs the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to lead the creation of a standardized time system for the Moon and other celestial bodies (planets, moons, or asteroids excluding Earth) to ensure safe, interoperable operations for future space missions and infrastructure.
Key Provisions
- Sense of Congress: Expresses that U.S. leadership in space exploration, including NASA's Artemis and Moon to Mars programs, requires time standardization to support government, commercial, academic, and international partnerships. It highlights the need for U.S.-led standards to promote global competitiveness and benefits for other spacefaring nations.
- NASA's Responsibilities:
- Develop celestial time standardization, including leading the study and definition of a "coordinated lunar time" (a new timekeeping system tailored for the Moon).
- Create a strategy for implementing this coordinated lunar time to support operations and infrastructure on and around the Moon.
- Coordinate with federal agencies such as the Departments of Commerce, Defense, State, and Transportation.
- Consult with private companies, academic institutions, international standards organizations, and global partners.
- Incorporate key features into the strategy where feasible:
- Traceability to UTC (linking back to Earth's standard time).
- High accuracy for precise navigation and scientific measurements.
- Resilience during periods without Earth contact (e.g., signal loss).
- Scalability for use beyond the Earth-Moon system (e.g., Mars or deeper space).
- Reporting Requirement: NASA must brief the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation within two years of enactment, covering the strategy, implementation plans, timelines, and needed resources.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces new mandates for NASA, as there is no prior federal law specifically requiring the development of time standards for celestial bodies. It builds on existing space policies (e.g., NASA's exploration programs) by adding explicit requirements for timekeeping standardization, which was previously unaddressed in U.S. legislation.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: NASA will lead efforts, requiring collaboration with other agencies for technical, diplomatic, and security input; this may increase resource allocation for space infrastructure.
- Citizens: Indirect benefits through advanced U.S. space exploration, potentially leading to innovations in technology (e.g., better GPS-like systems for space) that could trickle down to everyday applications like improved satellite services.
- International Relations: Positions the U.S. as a leader in global space standards, fostering partnerships (e.g., with allies in the Artemis Accords) while encouraging cooperation with other nations to avoid fragmented systems that could hinder joint missions.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- NASA and OSTP: Primary implementers, with NASA driving development and the Office of Science and Technology Policy providing oversight.
- Federal Agencies: Departments of Commerce (standards and trade), Defense (military space operations), State (international diplomacy), and Transportation (navigation tech).
- Private Sector and Academia: Commercial space companies (e.g., SpaceX, Blue Origin) and universities involved in consultations for practical input on interoperability.
- International Partners: Space agencies and organizations (e.g., European Space Agency, international standards bodies) benefiting from U.S.-led standards for collaborative missions.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Establishes a clear congressional directive for NASA, potentially setting a precedent for future space governance laws; no conflicts with existing treaties like the Outer Space Treaty (1967), which encourages international cooperation.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's authority over federal agencies and commerce (e.g., space industry growth), without infringing on individual rights.
- Political: Reinforces U.S. strategic priorities in space amid competition with nations like China, promoting bipartisan support for exploration while emphasizing economic and scientific leadership; could influence budget debates in Congress for NASA's funding.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4]
Cosponsors (1)
Rep. Begich, Nicholas J. [R-AK-At Large]
Recent Actions
- 2025-04-29: Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
- 2025-04-29: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- 2025-03-25: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
- 2025-03-25: Introduced in House
- 2025-03-25: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Celestial Time Standardization Act — issued 2025-03-25 — PDF (4 pages)