S A R S A T Search & Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking

COSPAS =Cosmicheskaya Systyema Poiska Aariynyich Sudov Which loosely translates into: “The Space System for the Search of Vessels in Distress” SARSAT =Search And Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking What is Cospas-Sarsat??? In short, Cospas-Sarsat takes the “search” out of Search & Rescue

Rescues In 2001: 1,545 persons rescued in 365 SAR events maritime rescues in 239 SAR events - 83 aviation rescues in 47 SAR events land rescues in 79 SAR events Since 1982 over 14,000 lives rescued via Cospas- Sarsat! Nearly 5,000 in U.S. AOR’s alone!

Rescues in 2001

Emergency Beacons Two types: 121.5/243 MHz and 406 MHz Three applications: - Emergency Position Indication Radio Beacons (EPIRB) - Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELT) - Personal Locator Beacons (PLB)

121.5 MHz Beacons Older technology Not designed for satellite processing (no store & forward capability) Analog signal only = no identification code Does not have global coverage! Low power ( < 1 watt) Less rigid standards Poor location accuracy = Usually no better than 12 miles USMCC handles ‘hits’ per day. 99.5% are false!! Will Not Be Detected by Satellites After February 1, 2009!

243 MHz Beacons Similar to MHz beacons Primarily used by the military Many existing MHz also transmit on 243 MHz Will Not Be Detected by Satellites After February 1, 2009!Will Not Be Detected by Satellites After February 1, 2009!

406 MHz Beacons Newer technology Designed for satellite processing (store & forward) Global coverage Digital signal Increased power (5 watt) Unique Identification Rigid specifications More Accurate = mile location accuracy. Even better with integral GPS units = 100 meter accuracy!

Beacons with Navigation Input Improved accuracy Instantaneous detection MHz 406 MHz 406 MHz with GPS

Space Segment Two types of satellites Low-Earth Orbiting Search and Rescue (LEOSAR) Geostationary Orbiting Search and Rescue (GEOSAR)

2 Types of Satellites: Low Earth Orbiting Search And Rescue (LEOSAR) (8) Satellites in Orbit: -COSPAS 4, 9, 10 -SARSAT 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 Geostationary Orbiting Search And Rescue (GEOSAR) (4) Satellites in Orbit: -GOES 8, 10 -INSAT 2B -MSG (recently launched & undergoing testing) Space Segment

121.5/243 MHz Beacon Satellite LUT Detection of a 121.5/243 MHz beacon requires mutual visibility between beacon, satellite and ground station (LUT) 406 MHz Beacon Satellite LUT 406 MHz beacon detections can be stored on board the satellite and re-broadcast later

Local Mode (‘Bent Pipe’) Operations

Global Mode (‘Store & Forward’) Operations

Typical Satellite Footprint GEO Footprint LEO Footprint

Typical 121.5/243 MHz Coverage “Holes”

LEOSAR Local User Terminals (LEOLUT) Track COSPAS and SARSAT satellites Recover beacon signals Perform error checking Perform Doppler processing Send alert to Mission Control Center

Maryland Puerto Rico Texas Alaska Hawaii United States LEOLUTs Guam California (Deployable LUT)

LEOSAR Local User Terminals (LEOLUT) – 41 Locations Worldwide

GEOSAR Local User Terminals (GEOLUT) Track GOES and INSAT satellites Recover beacon signals Perform error checking Send alert to Mission Control Center

GEOSAR Local User Terminals (GEOLUT) – 8 Locations

Receive alerts from national LUTs and foreign MCCs Validate, match and merge alerts to improve location accuracy and determine the correct destination Geographically sort and then transmit alerts to appropriate Rescue Coordination Centers (RCCs) and SAR Points of Contact (SPOC). Filter redundant data Perform System support and monitoring functions Mission Control Centers (MCCs)

Mission Control Centers (MCC) – 25 Locations

JAMCC USMCC AUMCCCMC FMCC CMCCCHMCCPEMCCBRMCC KOMCC HKMCC NMCC UKMCC ITMCC SPMCC PAMCCINMCC ALMCC TAMCC CNMCC SIMCCIDMCC Nodal Network SAMCCZAMCC

USMCC 23 MCCs 14 LUTs 14 RCCs 7 SPOCs Special Programs Spacecraft Telemetry & Ephemeris Data Communication Sites

Handle /243 alerts/day Handle MHz alerts/day Transmit 1200 messages/day Schedule and ingest data from 500 satellite passes/day Register 40 new beacons/day Update 60 beacon registrations/day Confirm 300 beacon registrations/week Enter 35 incident feedback reports/day Activity The United States Mission Control Center Suitland, MD

CGD14 CGD17 AKRCC AFRCC PACAREA LANTAREA CGD8 CGD7 CGD1 CGD13 GANTSEC CGD9 United States Rescue Coordination Centers & their Areas of Responsibility (AOR’s)

United States Cospas-Sarsat Program Administration Inland SAR Maritime SAR Research & Development System Operation Representative to Cospas-Sarsat Program

National Administration DOC DOD FCC DOI NASA DOT SARSAT Lead, Satellite Services (NOAA) SAR Lead/Facilities (USAF & DPMO) Regulations for Radio Facilities & Frequency Issues SAR Services ( Nat’l Park Service) Research and Development SAR Lead/Regs USCG & FAA

NOAA – SARSAT Administration U.S. Department of Commerce National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Satellite Service (NESDIS) SARSAT Program Office OSDPD Direct Services Division

International Organization Initially developed under interagency Memorandum of Agreement signed in 1979 International Cospas-Sarsat Programme Agreement signed on July 1, 1988 among the governments of Canada, France, the former U.S.S.R and the United States Association with Programme allows States to contribute towards the ground segment or participate in international Cospas-Sarsat meetings Goals of Cospas-Sarsat are to support SAR objectives of ICAO and IMO

Member Nations

AlgeriaArgentinaAustralia AlgeriaArgentinaAustralia BrazilCanadaChile China (P.R. of) Denmark France GermanyGreeceIndia IndonesiaItalyJapan Korea (Rep. of) MadagascarNetherlands (The) New ZealandNigeriaNorway PakistanPeruRussia Saudi ArabiaSingaporeSouth Africa SpainSwedenSwitzerland ThailandTunisiaUnited Kingdom VietnamUSA The International Telecommunication Development Corporation (ITDC) The Marine Department of Hong Kong, China Member Nations Participating Organizations

Program Management Cospas-Sarsat Council System Operation Joint Committee Administrative Organ Cospas-Sarsat Secretariat Operational Working Group Technical Working Group

International Maritime Organization UN specialized agency responsible for improving maritime safety (Mandates use of emergency beacons) International Civil Aviation Organization UN specialized agency responsible for aviation matters and improving civil aviation safety (Mandates use of 406 MHz beacons) International Telecommunications Union UN specialized agency responsible for coordinating global telecommunications (406 MHz beacon specifications)

ICAO Convention Aircraft New aircraft that fall under the ICAO convention should carry 406 MHz ELTs by 2002 All aircraft that fall under the ICAO convention should carry 406 MHz ELTs by MHz Carriage Requirements IMO - SOLAS Class Vessels All vessels 300 gross tons or greater Vessels engaged in transporting 6 or more persons ***In the U.S. all Commerical Fishing Vessels***

Phase-Out of 121.5/243 MHz Satellite Alerting MHz BEACON USAGE – International Termination of MHz Satellite Alerting on 01 February 2009! – U.S. Termination of MHz EPIRBs = 3 Phases Certification of new EPIRBs cease immediately Sales and manufacture of MHz EPIRBs cease on 01 February, 2003 Operation/Use of MHz EPIRBs becomes illegal on 31 December, 2006 – MHz ELTs will still be in use and required on general aviation aircraft…

New Users Non-mandated users (recreational) Military Other Government Agencies (NASA, Forest Service, etc.

Tour of the U.S.M.C.C.