Key facts
- Xona Space Systems plans to deploy 258 Pulsar satellites in low Earth orbit.
- The new system aims to provide signals 100 times stronger than GPS.
- Early services are expected to begin in 2027, with full constellation deployment in subsequent years.
- The technology targets applications needing high precision and resilience, including financial markets and data centers.
- LEO satellites offer stronger signals but require a large number for continuous global coverage.
California-based Xona Space Systems is developing a new constellation of navigation satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) called Pulsar, aiming to offer a more robust and accurate alternative to current global navigation satellite systems like GPS. The company plans to launch the first six production satellites in October 2026, with early services expected to commence in 2027. Once the full constellation of 258 Pulsar satellites is deployed, Xona claims it will provide location accuracy within several centimeters anywhere on Earth.
The Pulsar system is designed to deliver signals that are up to 100 times stronger than GPS, enabling greater reliability in challenging environments such as dense urban areas, under thick foliage, and indoors. This increased signal strength also makes the system more resilient to GPS jamming, a growing concern for commercial flights, maritime shipping, and smartphone applications. Xona has already conducted live-sky jamming tests demonstrating the effectiveness of its stronger signals.
Beyond positioning, the Pulsar satellites will also offer precision timing services, crucial for sectors like financial markets, telecommunications, and data centers. Unlike GPS, which relies on expensive atomic clocks, Pulsar satellites will use a software-based solution for timing. The availability of persistent timing services is expected to improve as the constellation grows.
Experts note that LEO satellite navigation systems, while offering stronger signals due to their proximity to Earth, require a significant number of satellites for continuous global coverage. This was a challenge for earlier systems like the US Navy's Transit system in the 1960s, but is now more feasible due to advancements in rocket launch costs, similar to the development of large satellite constellations like Starlink. The primary customers for such premium PNT services are expected to be defense, national security, and government agencies prioritizing availability, resilience, and precision.