1. Mid-Earth Orbiting Search and Rescue (MEOSAR) Transition to Operations
RCC Controller Conference
February 2010

2. Overview DASS Overview International MEOSAR Space Segment
Ground Segment
User (Beacon) Segment
Program Activities
Summary
MEOSAR Transition to Operations

3. Distress Alerting Satellite System (DASS)
Various studies determined that medium-earth orbiting (MEO) satellites provide a vastly improved space-based distress alerting and locating system.
NASA, with USAF Space and Air Combat Command, NOAA, and USCG are developing a capability on GPS satellites– Distress Alerting Satellite System (DASS)
DASS provides:
406 MHz “bent-pipe” repeaters on GPS - Alert data downlink freely available internationally
Full compatibility with existing and future 406 MHz beacons
Support for civilian and military SAR responsibilities
Low technical risk, low cost
DASS fully interoperable with similar proposed Russian (SAR/GLONASS) and European (SAR/Galileo) systems
Supports U.S. Policy on Space-Based Positioning, Navigation & Timing Policy – S&R on GPS

4. MEO vs LEO Coverage

5. Distress Alert Satellite System (DASS)-
SAR Aircraft
Current SARSAT systems in LEO and GEO
Beacon activation recorded within 10 min
Location determined within 1-2 hours with 5 km accuracy
GPS MEOSAR vastly improves capability
Instantaneous Notification & Location
Multiple Locations Means
Global Coverage
100% Availability
No Terrain Blockage
Improved Accuracy
NASA/NSARC led Proof-of-Concept includes repeater on GPS IIR, IIR-M, and IIF SVs
S-Band downlink – not allocated for operational use 5

6. DASS Proof-of-Concept
DASS Proof-of-Concept (POC) underway
Nine on-orbit GPS Block IIR satellites carry DASS repeaters
12 Additional IIR satellites + all Block IIF satellites to host repeaters
POC system uses existing GPS. Downlink at S-Band (Not ITU-allocated for SAR)
Proof-of-Concept results to date:
Demonstrated ability to locate beacons to greater than current Cospas-Sarsat accuracy using two or more satellites
System meets/exceeds theoretical capabilities
Tests are on-going
Prototype ground station at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
4 antennas – capable of independently tracking 4 satellites
Completed in 2008
Successfully passed acceptance testing
May become future operational MEOLUT
Operational MEOLUT Wahiawa Hawaii
6 antenna – capable of tracking 6 satellites either S-band or L-band
Planned completion Fall 2010

7. International MEOSAR Cooperation
European Commission / European Space Agency
Interoperability between SAR/Galileo and DASS part of US/EU Agreement on GPS and Galileo
Interoperability to be addressed by Cospas-Sarsat
Interoperability parameters specified in MEOSAR Implementation Plan
Declaration of Intent to Cooperate was signed in October 2006
Russia
US/Russia Agreement on GPS/GLONASS interoperability under review
Agreement in Principle (April 2003) for interoperability with SAR/Glonass
Two working groups established to address interoperability – WG-2 addresses search and rescue - 6th meeting of WG-2 in May 2009
Canada
Has agreed to supply DASS repeater instruments to fly on GPS Block III
Contribution to DASS is worth approximately $90M
30 June 2006 letter (Canadian National Search and Rescue Secretariat to NOAA)
Similar to present SARSAT Instrument on POES
High-level efforts to make DASS official mission on GPS in progress
High-level discussions with GPS III program in progress

8. Cospas-Sarsat of Tomorrow: MEOSAR
Russia (GLONASS), USA (GPS aka DASS) and ESA/EC (SAR/Galileo) working to include 406 MHz repeater instruments on future medium Earth altitude orbiting (MEO) satellite constellations
Constellations will be fully compatible
Coordinating with C-S on specifications and compatibility
Global detection + location:
Beacon without embedded GPS - greater than Cospas-Sarsat accuracy with 3 bursts or less
Self-locating beacons - GPS accuracy after single beacon burst
Test alerts could be available in the USMCC starting in 2012 (Nine DASS test satellites currently in orbit)
NOTE: for 406 MHz only

9. Space Segment
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
SAR/Galileo
SAR/GLONASS
Deployment Phase
DASS
Full Constellation
Combined
MEOSAR Transition to Operations 9

10. Ground Segment
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
82%
Deployment Phase
Global Capability
98%
53%
MEOSAR Transition to Operations 10

11. Ground Segment #8: 01 January 2017 – 53 Satellites – 17 MEOLUTs (100%)
#2: 30 June 2011 – 11 Satellites – 9 MEOLUTs (3.8%)
#3: 01 January 2012 – 18 Satellites – 11 MEOLUTs (53.1%)
#1: 01 January 2011 – 5 Satellites – 8 MEOLUTs (0%)
#6: 30 June 2013 – 30 Satellites – 14 MEOLUTs (83.1%)
#7: 01 January 2015 – 31 Satellites – 16 MEOLUTs (98.4%)
#5: 01 January 2013 – 26 Satellites – 14 MEOLUTs (81.7%)
#4: 30 June 2012 – 20 Satellites – 13 MEOLUTs (65.0%)
Edmonton (8)
Kinloss (2)
Moscow (4)
Goose Bay (8)
Kinloss (4)
Ussurijsk (4)
Ottawa (4)
Toulouse (4)
Ankara (2)
Ankara (4)
Beijing (4)
Beijing (6)
Maryland (6)
Maryland (4)
Algiers (4)
Hawaii (6)
Bangalore (6)
Brasilia (4)
Brasilia (2)
Cape Town (6)
Perth (6)
Wellington (6)
Punta Arenas (6)
dummy

12. Requirement Definition Modify T.001 Specifications
User (Beacon) Segment
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
Studies
Requirement Definition
Modify T.001 Specifications
Beacon Development
ICAO/IMO Updates
National Standards Update
New Beacon Sales
MEOSAR Transition to Operations 12

13. Commissioning of Ground Segment Equipment
Program Activities
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
POC/IOV
D&E Planning
D&E
Development of Ground Segment Specifications and Data Distribution Procedures
Commissioning of Ground Segment Equipment
IOC
FOC
MEOSAR Transition to Operations 13

14. Summary
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
Space Segment
Ground Segment
New User/Beacon Segment
Development of Specifications and Data Distribution Procedures
IOC
FOC
MEOSAR Transition to Operations 14

15. Conclusions
Space segment could be first component of system to be fully deployed (by 2013)
Full Operational Capability dependent on global deployment of a ground segment
Installation, location and schedule of ground segment deployment is highly speculative and provided for planning purposes only
Schedule assumes many concurrent activities
Some activities may be dependent on others for completion
Full Operational Capability not dependent on new beacons
Activities do not consider schedule risk
MEOSAR Transition to Operations 15