## 7 Conclusions  
This article highlights the promising concept of an emergent time scale in AltPNT and addresses the technical challenges of achieving onboard ensemble time scale autonomy, primarily through inter-platform measurements. While the initial findings may seem simplified, they are intended to ignite a stronger interest in developing and deploying onboard ensemble time scales within pLEO constellations. AltPNT is vital for the success of satellite constellations, which are meant to be reconstituted every three to five years. Research shows that assembling flexible ensemble  
Figure 11: Local time scale realizations via Kalman estimators. time scales across pLEO constellations is not only feasible but can be efficiently performed through on-orbit assembly. This innovative process leverages autonomous networked control of time scale realizations, both during and after integrating crucial information about IEM estimation into inter-platform communication networks. Moreover, employing existing satellite crosslinks and expertly navigating the trade-offs between open-loop and closed-loop control greatly affects the control interval, highlighting its importance in effective clock steering. This approach is not just a technical possibility; it is a transformative step forward in satellite technology, which paves the way for enhanced precision and reliability in navigation and timing. Achieving high-precision time synchronization is essential and hinges on a comprehensive understanding of first-order Doppler effects, which influence frequency changes in received signals. These changes are directly tied to the relative position and velocity of orbital platforms. This subject stands apart from the existing literature surrounding clock ensemble generation and realization, which emphasizes its unique importance. A resilient method is proposed for delivering precision timing across a distributed architecture, which involves discreet data transport between the anchor orbital platform and the participating platforms. This innovative approach guarantees exceptional communication performance through ad hoc, non-dedicated requests for clock data transport while optimizing power allocation to fulfill diverse service needs. Furthermore, the autonomous assembly of active MCV controllers plays a pivotal role in precisely synchronizing one frequency standard with another. This process ensures the creation of an onboard low SWaP time scale backup, which is in phase and frequency with the IEM reference. Thanks to the robustness of the MCV control algorithm, reliable time scale realizations can be achieved even in the face of stochastic noise processes and performance uncertainties that exceed expected thresholds. This robust framework paves the way for advancing precision timing in orbital contexts, making it an investment worth pursuing. The findings presented here underscore the significant opportunity in achieving unparalleled operational effectiveness and efficiency in ad hoc and non-dedicated pLEO services, especially under extreme radio conditions like GNSS outages. By leveraging local autonomous agents onboard pLEO constellations, one can facilitate an innovative integration of primary satellite communication and secondary PNT services at the physical layer. This integration is guided by regulatory policies, which are informed by data link layers and forecasts on link capacity resources, thus paving the way for enhanced reliability and performance. Looking ahead, we see future work focusing on modeling, simulation, and analysis to conduct trade-off studies aimed at achieving remarkable 100-picosecond radio time synchronization across the constellation, utilizing advanced software-defined radios in collaboration with leading teams. Additionally, the development of ensemble algorithms will be explored to effectively deploy both local and remote clocks at scale.