def str2et(time):
    """
    Convert a string representing an epoch to a double precision
    value representing the number of TDB seconds past the J2000
    epoch corresponding to the input epoch.

    http://naif.jpl.nasa.gov/pub/naif/toolkit_docs/C/cspice/str2et_c.html

    :param time: A string representing an epoch.
    :type time: str
    :return: The equivalent value in seconds past J2000, TDB.
    :rtype: float
    """
    if isinstance(time, list):
        return numpy.array([str2et(t) for t in time])
    time = stypes.stringToCharP(time)
    et = ctypes.c_double()
    libspice.str2et_c(time, ctypes.byref(et))
    return et.value