Xona Space Systems is launching its first Pulsar satellite, Pulsar-0, to test a next-generation satnav system designed to overcome the critical vulnerabilities of the US Global Positioning System (GPS).
The planned 258-satellite constellation in low Earth orbit will deliver signals 100 times stronger than GPS, offering sub-10-centimeter accuracy and enhanced resistance to jamming and spoofing. While initially conceived for autonomous driving, the technology has gained strategic importance amid rising geopolitical tensions and widespread GPS disruptions affecting military, commercial, and critical infrastructure globally.
Xona's system aims to provide a more robust positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) solution, with the full constellation expected by 2030. The company faces competition from other space-based and terrestrial PNT solutions but hopes to secure its market position through GPS-compatible signal design, facilitating integration into existing technology.
