Xona Space Systems to Launch First Production LEO Navigation Satellites in October 2026

Xona Space Systems plans to launch its first six Pulsar satellites in October 2026, promising a signal 100 times stronger than GPS for improved urban and indoor accuracy.

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California-based Xona Space Systems announced it will launch the first six production satellites of its Pulsar constellation in October 2026. The company says the low Earth orbit (LEO) navigation satellites will provide a signal roughly 100 times stronger than that of GPS or other GNSS systems from higher orbits.

According to Xona, the stronger signal enables better location accuracy in dense cities, under thick foliage, and inside buildings. "That added power means that we can get into that indoor environment that GPS can't get to today," said Adrien Perkins, co-founder and vice president of engineering at Xona Space Systems.

The increased signal strength also improves resilience to interference, the company claims. Amid widespread GPS jamming affecting flights, shipping, and smartphone applications, Xona's satellites are designed to maintain functionality in challenging environments. "Our higher power allows you to get into those jamming environments a lot further than you would with GPS by itself," Perkins added.

Early service is expected to begin in 2027, with a full constellation of 258 Pulsar satellites planned. Once complete, Xona claims customers will be able to pinpoint location to within several centimeters anywhere on Earth.