01. Is time different in space? Does time move faster or slower in space? Are minutes and hours the same length as on Earth? (A K2S Question)

From The Space Library

Time depends on motion. If that seems strange to you, you are not alone! If you are moving very fast through space, then time will move slower for you than it is moving on Earth. But you must be moving very fast—near the speed of light—to notice the difference. Astronauts on their way to the Earth's Moon or to Mars would not be moving fast enough—though they may be moving thousands of miles per hour— to notice this difference in the rate of time passing. Therefore minutes and hours will be the same length for space travelers as they are back on Earth. Space travelers on trips through our solar system would need to agree on an Earth time zone for communication with people back home. For many NASA projects this time zone is Central Time, the time zone in Houston, Texas, where NASA scientists operate Mission Control for the Space Shuttle and other missions. For others, like the Mars Rovers, Mission Control is in California (Pacific Time) or in New York (Eastern Time).

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Answer provided by Luke Keller, Ph.D.

Question and Answer extracted from the book Kids to Space - by Lonnie Schorer

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