diff --git a/backend/api/Controllers/MissionSchedulingController.cs b/backend/api/Controllers/MissionSchedulingController.cs
index 47ed547fa..9691db741 100644
--- a/backend/api/Controllers/MissionSchedulingController.cs
+++ b/backend/api/Controllers/MissionSchedulingController.cs
@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@ [FromBody] ScheduledMissionQuery scheduledMissionQuery
                 MissionId = scheduledMissionDefinition.Id,
                 Status = MissionStatus.Pending,
                 MissionRunPriority = MissionRunPriority.Normal,
-                DesiredStartTime = scheduledMissionQuery.DesiredStartTime,
+                DesiredStartTime = scheduledMissionQuery.DesiredStartTime ?? DateTime.UtcNow,
                 Tasks = missionTasks,
                 InstallationCode = scheduledMissionQuery.InstallationCode,
                 Area = area,
diff --git a/backend/api/Controllers/Models/ScheduledMissionQuery.cs b/backend/api/Controllers/Models/ScheduledMissionQuery.cs
index 3fae55b4e..7d0c4b09a 100644
--- a/backend/api/Controllers/Models/ScheduledMissionQuery.cs
+++ b/backend/api/Controllers/Models/ScheduledMissionQuery.cs
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ public struct ScheduledMissionQuery
     {
         public string RobotId { get; set; }
         public int EchoMissionId { get; set; }
-        public DateTime DesiredStartTime { get; set; }
+        public DateTime? DesiredStartTime { get; set; }
         public string InstallationCode { get; set; }
         public string? AreaName { get; set; }
         public TimeSpan? InspectionFrequency { get; set; }
diff --git a/frontend/src/api/ApiCaller.tsx b/frontend/src/api/ApiCaller.tsx
index f0478c4e4..e6f50e210 100644
--- a/frontend/src/api/ApiCaller.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/api/ApiCaller.tsx
@@ -306,7 +306,6 @@ export class BackendAPICaller {
         const body = {
             robotId: desiredRobot[0].id,
             echoMissionId: echoMissionId,
-            desiredStartTime: new Date(),
             installationCode: installationCode,
             areaName: '',
         }