Low-orbit navigation satellites aim to strengthen GPS-like signals
Xona Space Systems plans six Pulsar satellites in 2026, saying a full 258-satellite network could deliver centimeter-level positioning worldwide.
By Maya Lindqvist · Senior Technology Correspondent
2 min read
A California company plans to begin launching a new low-Earth-orbit navigation network in October 2026, a project that could make satellite positioning stronger in places where GPS struggles. Ars Technica reports that Xona Space Systems says its Pulsar satellites are designed to send signals far more powerful than those from GPS and other navigation systems in higher orbits.
The first six production satellites are scheduled for launch in October 2026, according to Ars Technica. Xona expects early service to begin in 2027, with a larger deployment planned after that.
The company’s proposed full network would include 258 Pulsar satellites, Ars Technica reports. Xona says that once the constellation is complete, customers could determine their location anywhere on Earth to within several centimeters.
Stronger signals for difficult locations
Ars Technica reports that low-orbit navigation satellites could deliver signals 100 times stronger than GPS and other global navigation satellite systems that operate at higher altitudes. Xona says that additional signal power could help positioning services work better in dense urban areas, beneath heavy tree cover and inside buildings.
Adrien Perkins, Xona’s co-founder and vice president of engineering, told Ars Technica that the higher-power signal is meant to reach indoor settings that GPS does not serve well today. He also said the added power could help users maintain positioning in jamming conditions farther than GPS alone would allow.
The technology is being developed as satellite navigation interference has become a broader problem, according to Ars Technica. The outlet reports that GPS jamming has increasingly disrupted commercial aviation, maritime shipping and some smartphone applications.
A possible supplement to existing systems
GPS and other global navigation satellite systems already underpin transportation, logistics and consumer location services. Ars Technica reports that Xona’s system is aimed at improving signal strength and accuracy by operating from low-Earth orbit rather than the higher orbital altitudes used by existing global navigation systems.
The company’s timeline leaves several steps before a worldwide service is available. Ars Technica reports that the initial six satellites would support the start of service in 2027, while the full 258-satellite constellation would follow in later years.
Xona’s claims remain tied to deployment of that full network. If the company meets its plan, Ars Technica reports, the system would offer centimeter-scale positioning around the globe while improving performance in locations and interference conditions where GPS service can be unreliable.
This story draws on original reporting from Ars Technica.