Xona Space Systems: Pulsar, a LEO Alternative to GPS

Xona Space Systems is developing an alternative to GPS based on LEO satellites, promising a stronger signal, more accurate positioning and greater resistance to interference.

The Pulsar navigation system, created by US company Xona Space Systems, promises 2-centimetre accuracy, a signal 100 times stronger and improved protection against interference in wartime. Rather than relying on conventional satellite positioning systems such as GPS, the company plans to use a constellation of satellites in low Earth orbit, or LEO, comparable to those used by Starlink and Amazon Leo.

The service is not yet live, although its initial trials have already delivered encouraging results. In preparation for its launch, Xona has also started its Pulsar Verified certification programme, designed to identify compatible receivers.

“Alongside the progress we have made on our signal and the satellites that will broadcast it, we have also advanced the ecosystem around it. We have entered into partnerships with the largest commercial GNSS chip manufacturers to accelerate the transition to LEO navigation through the trusted distribution channels where users already purchase their GNSS equipment today,” the company states.

Pulsar: a LEO alternative to GPS

Put simply, by the time Pulsar enters service, a substantial number of devices should already support this new navigation system. One year ago, the company launched its first satellite, Pulsar-0, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Its purpose was to demonstrate the improvements offered by Xona's technology over GPS, and the mission has now achieved that objective.

A more powerful, more dependable signal

The trials demonstrated both the strength of the signal and its accuracy. Over the past year, positioning accuracy has improved considerably and can now reach 1.5 centimetres. More importantly, Pulsar showed excellent resilience to interference during simulations, achieving 95% effectiveness against it. Xona also highlights its authentication system, which shields users from spoofing attempts. As the company explains, cryptographic protection verifies that a signal genuinely originates from a satellite rather than from an adversary on the ground.

Because Pulsar's signal is 100 times more powerful, it should also provide better indoor reliability than GPS.

The next step: deploying the constellation

While it prepares an ecosystem of Pulsar-compatible devices, Xona is now focusing on deploying its satellites. “With the opening of our dedicated spacecraft manufacturing facility and growing investments in vertical integration, the challenge ahead is to build and deploy our constellation of more than 250 satellites that will power the future of technology everywhere on Earth,” the company writes.

According to Space News, once Xona has launched six additional satellites this year, it will finally be able to begin beta testing of its revolutionary positioning system.