US Government Unveils Moon Navigation and Research Plans

The Biden administration recently shared some final space policy papers focusing on activities and technology advancements in the area between Earth and the moon, known as cislunar space. The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) issued a policy memo on December 18, which instructs various government departments, led by NASA, to develop a navigation system for the moon and nearby space by the end of 2026. This system would help with positioning, direction, and conversions between different reference systems, similar to what we use on Earth. It’s crucial for safe travel, scientific exploration, and business operations. The OSTP director, Arati Prabhakar, emphasized that a common understanding of these systems is essential for safe navigation and scientific discoveries on the moon. She stressed the need for the U. S. to take the lead in establishing these systems while the moon's infrastructure is being built. Previously, in April, the OSTP had released a similar memo about creating a timing system for the moon. This new system must account for the effects of general relativity, which can cause clocks on the lunar surface to lose almost 60 microseconds per day compared to Earth clocks. This timing difference poses challenges for navigation and other activities. Alongside the memo, the OSTP also published a 15-page National Cislunar Science and Technology Action Plan. This plan aims to implement a strategy from 2022, setting four main goals. First, it supports research and development for a long-term human presence in cislunar space, scientific research, and workforce development. NASA is in charge of most of these tasks, but the Department of Defense handles workforce issues. The second goal is to expand international cooperation in science and technology. This includes suggesting an International Lunar Year by the end of the decade, led by the State Department with a proposal planned for the United Nations General Assembly by 2026. The plan also stresses the importance of safe activities and best practices in cislunar space. For space situational awareness (SSA) in cislunar space, the action plan directs agencies to identify needs and gaps, and to develop or improve sensors on the ground and in space. It also calls for creating an integrated cislunar object catalog and sharing data with other operators in this space. The final goal is to establish a National Communication and Position, Navigation, and Timing Architecture. NASA will lead an interagency group to develop and oversee this architecture, ensuring it can work with commercial and international systems. The plan doesn’t specify many deadlines but suggests actions to be taken over the next five years. The main focus is on the U. S. leading the effort to shape future rules and governance for outer space activities, aligned with the Space Priorities Framework and National Security Strategy.

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