The first precision commercial alternative to GPS is about to launch when six satellites designed by Xona Space Systems are set to go live this month. The team, founded in 2019, faced the challenge of improving GPS with stronger signals and more precise timing and location data. Their solution involves a unique satellite architecture that allows for centimeter-level precision, enabling detection inside buildings and in urban environments.

While the initial pilot will allow engineers at TimeBeat to check and correct timing, Xona aims to offer full coverage in the U.S., Europe, Japan, and South Korea by 2028. The U.S. government is clearly interested, given the increasing risk of jamming and spoofing of satellite navigation services in conflicts. Xona's technology could also play a significant role in the safety of autonomous vehicles, as its CTO, Tyler Reid, previously worked on self-driving cars at Ford.

Brian Manning, CEO of Xona, envisions a future where the technology can contribute to the safety of civil aviation, ensuring that you feel as safe taking your hands off the wheel as you do in the air. The company has raised $300 million from venture investors, including a $20 million investment from the U.S. Space Force, highlighting the potential of commercial space technology.

Among the planes landing at San Francisco International Airport, Manning reflects on the gold standard of safety in civil aviation, seeing Xona's technology as a stepping stone to a safer and more autonomous future for transportation.