## 1 Introduction
This strategy not only optimizes resources but also enhances the feasibility of implementing advanced satellite systems. In the second challenge, it was observed that monitoring each onboard clock across a pLEO constellation creates a bottleneck for resilient GNSS performance. Therefore, finding an alternative solution to establish a precise timing ensemble across the constellation is essential. This ensemble must maintain accurate timing for operational users while ensuring traceability to UTC (Coordinated Universal Time). Achieving GNSS timing accuracy without relying solely on GNSS itself is a primary objective of recent initiatives. To address this, two-way time and frequency transfers between pLEO platforms are implemented, enabling the use of low Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) clocks without a heavy dependence on extensive ground monitoring or GNSS availability. This approach is critical for maximizing the existing connectivity among these cooperating platforms, which are currently utilized in various primary data transport applications [9; 10]. As anticipated, the radio frequency antennas and terminals on each pLEO platform will support both in-plane and cross-plane connections [11]. Importantly, establishing networks with inter-satellite links to connect different pLEO platforms allows for data transport, ranging measurements, and clock comparisons. Leveraging these inter-satellite links enables clock comparisons among small atomic clocks onboard each pLEO satellite, potentially reducing the need for ground monitoring. This feature allows differential clock phase measurements to be directly integrated into clock ensembling algorithms. Such capabilities are vital for the on-demand generation of the local realizations of pLEO time (pLEOT), which functions as a constellation time scale similar to GPST (GPS Time). This article introduces a novel conformance framework essential for facilitating seamless interactions and realizing composable and reference time scales within a distributed architecture. This architecture enables the direct synchronization of pLEO satellite transmissions. Synchronization is achieved by measuring time offsets using two-way signaling, propagating differential clock measurements to all pLEO satellites, computing the clock offsets within a common reference frame, and accurately correcting these offsets during signal generation. The structure of the article is as follows: Section 2 examines how principles of control engineering can address the key question of how each participating pLEO platform can effectively manage ad hoc clock data transfer requests. This is accomplished by enhancing decision-making autonomy and increasing the reprogrammability of integrated broadcasting signals to ensure their integrity, robustness, and security. Section 3 presents the concept of a pLEO time scale, detailing its critical clock dynamics and frequency standards for various types of low SWaP clocks. The objective is to establish an autonomous and robust pLEO time scale, which can serve as primary clock reference signals if needed. This section discusses a networked clock system comprising a limited number of free-running clocks onboard cooperating pLEO platforms, which are interconnected through clock-to-clock difference measurements. These measurements are coordinated via multi-way time transfer and synchronization. Section 4 demonstrates that implicit ensemble mean (IEM) estimation is crucial for creating a \"paper clock\" that operates on an anchor platform within the pLEO constellation. Each corrected clock in the pLEO constellation can accurately represent the IEM. Section 5 indicates that synchronizing satellites within the pLEO constellation with the pLEOT requires a real clock onboard each platform. This physical clock must be adjusted against the paper clock to achieve a composite clock. Therefore, maintaining network update rates along with distributed IEM information is essential for steering commands while minimizing reliance on IEM realizations.