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Edition 2026-08-04

SCIENCE

Xona Secures FCC Approval for 250‑Satellite Navigation Constellation

Xona Space Systems announced that the Federal Communications Commission has granted conditional approval to broadcast commercial navigation signals from a planned constellation ...

By SpaceNews · 81d ago · Source: SpaceNews

Full article

Xona Space Systems announced that the Federal Communications Commission has granted conditional approval to broadcast commercial navigation signals from a planned constellation of more than 250 satellites, removing a regulatory obstacle for deployment. The authorization expands a prior license for the Pulsar-0 demonstration satellite to cover the full constellation and permits transmission of Pulsar signals in the L‑band adjacent to GPS L1 and L5 frequencies, without using the same channels. The FCC required Xona to demonstrate that the signals could be stronger while avoiding interference with existing GPS, aviation and other authorized users. The license includes conditions that the company must obtain further approval based on an updated orbital‑debris assessment before launching additional satellites, place half of the constellation in orbit by July 2032 and complete the full deployment by July 2035, and cease transmissions immediately if interference is detected. Xona’s only satellite currently in orbit, Pulsar-0, launched in June 2025 and has completed over 350 transmission passes across four continents. The company plans to launch six satellites in October on a SpaceX rideshare, including the first two buses built at its Burlingame, California manufacturing facility. A $170 million funding round in March will support deployment of the Pulsar network and expansion of satellite production. The service is intended for applications that require precise timing, such as telecommunications, financial transactions and data‑center synchronization, with broader navigation coverage expected once a sufficient number of satellites are operational.

Source transparency

Publisher
SpaceNews
Reliability
high
Published
8/4/2026, 10:00:15 AM
Retrieved
8/4/2026, 10:00:15 AM
Relevance
80%
Confidence
85%
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