Does time move differently on the ISS?

So depending on our position and speed, time can appear to move faster or slower to us relative to others in a different part of space-time. And for astronauts on the International Space Station, that means they get to age just a tiny bit slower than people on Earth. That’s because of time-dilation effects.

Do Satellites adjust for time dilation?

Since the satellite is moving faster than the earth, for every day on earth the clock on the satellite shows one day minus 7 microseconds due to time dilation due to special relativity.

Do clocks on satellites move slower?

According to Einstein’s theory of relativity, the clocks on the satellites are ticking more slowly than Earth-based clocks by about 7 millionths of a second per day.

Why do we need a weightless clock on the ISS?

Slow-moving atoms in a cooled weightless clock can be observed for a longer time, and they’re less likely to hit the walls of their container in mid-oscillation. If all goes as planned, a laser-cooled clock named PARCS will be installed on the ISS in late 2004 or 2005.

How does the ISS clock compare to Earth’s clock?

Because gravity is weaker on the ISS than at Earth’s surface, PARCS should accumulate an extra second every 10,000 years compared to clocks ticking on the planet below. PARCS won’t be there that long, but the clock is so stable that it will reveal this effect in less than one year.

Why do we use atomic clocks in space?

“The International Space Station is a great place for atomic clocks because the station is freely falling around the Earth,” Strayer continued. Slow-moving atoms in a cooled weightless clock can be observed for a longer time, and they’re less likely to hit the walls of their container in mid-oscillation.

Why do clocks tick slower on the ISS?

According to Einstein’s theory of gravity and space-time — called “general relativity” — clocks in strong gravity tick slower than clocks in weak gravity. Because gravity is weaker on the ISS than at Earth’s surface, PARCS should accumulate an extra second every 10,000 years compared to clocks ticking on the planet below.