S A R S A T

SARSAT

Search & RescueSearch & Rescue

Satellite-Aided TrackingSatellite-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???What is Cospas-Sarsat???

In short, Cospas-Sarsat takes the “search” out In short, Cospas-Sarsat takes the “search” out of Search & Rescueof Search & Rescue

Rescues In 2001:

1,545 persons rescued in 365 SAR events

- 1341 maritime rescues in 239 SAR events

- 83 aviation rescues in 47 SAR events

- 121 land rescues in 79 SAR events

Since 1982 over 14,000 Since 1982 over 14,000 lives rescued via Cospas-lives rescued via Cospas-Sarsat! Nearly 5,000 in Sarsat! Nearly 5,000 in U.S. AOR’s alone!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 400-600 ‘hits’ per day. 99.5% are false!!

Will Not Be Detected by Satellites Will Not Be Detected by Satellites After February 1, 2009!After February 1, 2009!

243 MHz Beacons

• Similar to 121.5 MHz beacons

• Primarily used by the military

• Many existing 121.5 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 = 2 - 3 mile location accuracy.

Even better with integral GPS units = 100 meter accuracy!

Beacons with Navigation Input

• Improved accuracy

• Instantaneous detection

121.5 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 SegmentSpace 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 RicoTexas

AlaskaHawaii

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

AUMCC CMC

FMCC

CMCC CHMCC PEMCC BRMCC

KOMCC

HKMCC

NMCC

UKMCC

ITMCC

SPMCC

PAMCC INMCC

ALMCC

TAMCC

CNMCC

SIMCC IDMCC

Nodal Network

SAMCC ZAMCC

USMCC23

MCCs14

LUTs

14 RCCs

7 SPOCs

Special Programs

Spacecraft Telemetry &

Ephemeris Data

Communication Sites

Handle 250-400 121.5/243 alerts/day

Handle 10-15 406 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

ActivityActivity

The United StatesThe United StatesMission Control Mission Control

CenterCenter

Suitland, MDSuitland, MD

CGD14

CGD17

AKRCC

AFRCC

PACAREA

LANTAREA

CGD8

CGD7

CGD1CGD13

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 fo

r Radio

Facilities & Frequency

Issues

SAR Services

(Nat’l Park Service)

Research and Development

SAR Lead/Regs

USCG & FAA

NOAA – SARSAT AdministrationNOAA – SARSAT Administration

U.S. Department of Commerce

National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

National Satellite Service (NESDIS)

SARSAT ProgramOffice

OSDPDDirect 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

AlgeriaAlgeria ArgentinaArgentina AustraliaAustraliaBrazilBrazil CanadaCanada ChileChile China China (P.R. of) (P.R. of) Denmark Denmark FranceFranceGermanyGermany GreeceGreece IndiaIndiaIndonesiaIndonesia ItalyItaly JapanJapanKorea (Rep. of)Korea (Rep. of) MadagascarMadagascar Netherlands (The)Netherlands (The)New ZealandNew Zealand NigeriaNigeria NorwayNorwayPakistanPakistan PeruPeru RussiaRussiaSaudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia SingaporeSingapore South AfricaSouth AfricaSpainSpain SwedenSweden SwitzerlandSwitzerlandThailandThailand TunisiaTunisia United KingdomUnited KingdomVietnamVietnam USAUSA

The International Telecommunication Development Corporation (ITDC) The International Telecommunication Development Corporation (ITDC) The Marine Department of Hong Kong, China 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 2005

406 MHz Carriage Requirements406 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 AlertingPhase-Out of 121.5/243 MHz Satellite Alerting

121.5 MHz BEACON USAGE– International Termination of 121.5 MHz Satellite Alerting on

01 February 2009!

– U.S. Termination of 121.5 MHz EPIRBs = 3 Phases• Certification of new 121.5 EPIRBs cease immediately • Sales and manufacture of 121.5 MHz EPIRBs cease on 01 February, 2003• Operation/Use of 121.5 MHz EPIRBs becomes illegal on 31 December, 2006

– 121.5 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.Tour of the U.S.M.C.C.

www.sarsat.noaa.www.sarsat.noaa.govgov