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12
COSPAS-SARSAT SATELLITE SYSTEM
The International Cospas-Sarsat Programme is a satellite-based search and
rescue distress alert detection and information distribution system, best known
for detecting and locating emergency beacons activated by aircraft, ships and
hikers in distress. Since its launch in 1982, Cospas-Sarsat has helped to save
over 40,000 lives.
12.1 The Search And Rescue (SAR) process
The following diagram of the Cospas-Sarsat Ecosystem shows the 5 critical
stages to the search and rescue process.
1.
The process begins with the activation of a distress beacon (EPIRBs for
maritime use, PLBs for personal use and ELTs for aviation use) in an
emergency situation, sending out a 406 MHz signal.
2.
The Cospas-Sarsat satellite system picks up the signal and transmits it
back to a ground receiving station on Earth. These are called Local User
Terminals or LUTs.
3.
The LUT processes the signal to generate a distress alert and relays it to
a Mission Control Center.
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