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Satellite Systems
14 APPENDIX – SATELLITE SYSTEMS
COSPAS-SARSAT satellite system
The COSPAS-SARSAT system provides distress alert and location
information to search and rescue authorities anywhere in the world for
maritime, aviation and terrestrial users in distress.
There are two satellite arrays carrying the COSPAS-SARSAT system.
The principal array is LEOSAR (Low Earth Orbit Search and Rescue)
which has seven satellites in polar and near-polar orbits. The orbits of
these satellites are arranged to scan the entire surface of the Earth; on
average, a satellite comes into view every 45 minutes.
Fig. 14.1 - LEOSAR satellite path and scan footprint
Distress transmissions from EPIRBs are picked up by the satellites and
retransmitted to ground receiving stations, which then pass the message
to the appropriate rescue organisation. On average, the total delay from
activation of an EPIRB to the message being received by the rescue
services is 90 minutes.
COSPAS-SARSAT equipment is also carried on the second satellite
array, GEOSAR (Geostationary Search and Rescue). This array uses
geostationary satellites which are always in view (over their area of
coverage), so that reception of the EPIRB signal is virtually
instantaneous.
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