Rendering of satellites built by Aerospacelab. Photo: Aerospacelab

Xona Space Systems has ordered eight Pulsar satellites from manufacturer Aerospacelab for its navigation constellation. Launches are set to begin late this year. 

Xona Space Systems is working to establish its own manufacturing capabilities in California, but has selected Aerospacelab as its “transition manufacturing partner” for initial Pulsar deployment. Aerospacelab previously built the company’s first satellite, Pulsar-0, which launched in June. 

“Pulsar-0 showed that the next era of navigation can move at the speed of commercial innovation,” said Xona COO Jay Wakenshaw. “Working with Aerospacelab accelerates that momentum, allowing Xona to deliver Pulsar’s next era capabilities to customers sooner while we lay the foundations for long-term production in California.”

Xona raised nearly $100 million over the summer to scale its constellation to provide commercial navigation services worldwide. 

“We are thrilled to support Xona in bringing Pulsar to life faster by providing an additional eight satellite platforms for their constellation,” Aerospacelab CEO Benoît Deper commented. “The expansion of this partnership underscores Aerospacelab’s focus on agility and scalable growth, ensuring we continue to meet our customers’ needs as they evolve.”