Move over, GPS: Navigation satellites in low-Earth orbit are making a comeback
Summary
New navigation satellites in low-Earth orbit (LEO) by the company Xona Space Systems aim to provide location signals up to 100 times stronger than current GPS. These satellites will improve accuracy, especially in cities and indoors, and offer better protection against GPS interference, with the first set launching in October 2026.Key Facts
- Xona Space Systems plans to launch six production satellites in October 2026 with services starting in 2027.
- The full Pulsar satellite constellation will have 258 satellites to provide global location accuracy within a few centimeters.
- Pulsar satellites send stronger signals than GPS, helping location devices work inside buildings and dense urban areas.
- These satellites can resist GPS jamming, reducing the affected area by 95 percent during tests.
- Pulsar-0, the first satellite, was launched on July 1, 2025, and helped improve positioning accuracy from 4.2 cm to 1.5 cm through software updates.
- Unlike GPS satellites that use expensive atomic clocks, Pulsar satellites use software for precise timing expected to reach 10 nanoseconds accuracy.
- Early users will include industries needing very reliable and precise location and timing, such as government agencies, defense, finance, and telecommunications.
- The system aims to provide continuous timing signals with about 16 satellites in orbit, and centimeter-level positioning with four satellites visible in a region.
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