Professional Documents
Culture Documents
NASA
Dramatic Rescues . .
What Is the System?
Emergency Transmitt ................................ 8-9
Space Segment . . . . . .. .. .. .. . . . 10-11
Ground Segment . . . ............................... 12-13
Successes/Improvements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Expanding into the Future .
For Additional I ............................. 16
Glossary . . . . .
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Dramatic
escu es
The First Rescue
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working. It was broadcasting
emergency signals up and out
into space.
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Rescue At Sea EPIRB. One of the crew
activated the EPIRB to signal for
The three men left from help. An HC- 130 helicopter was
Portland, Maine for England on dispatched from Elizabeth City,
October 9, 1982 in their A commercial airliner flying New Jersey to investigate. Based
trimaran GONZO. When they from New York to Madrid on the COSPAS/SARSAT location
had traveled about 480 km (300 picked up the EPIRB signal and information, the HC- 130 spotted
miles) southeast of Cape Cod, notified the Federal Aviation the GONZO emergency flare.
they encountered 20 foot waves Administration (FAA) New York The Coast Guard Vigorous and
with wind conditions of 30 to Oceanic Center. The FAA the merchant vessel California
50 knots. The GONZO capsized alerted the Coast Guard in New Cetty were diverted to the
on October 10 but the three York, who, in turn, called the scene. Despite heavy seas, the
men survived. They were well Mission Control Center (MCC) Vigorous, with some assistance
prepared with survival suits and for COSPAS/SARSAT location from the Cetty, was able to
emergency gear, including their assistance. recover the survivors.
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[i
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automatic activation of an
emergency radio beam alerted
aircraft flying overhead. This
marked the initiation of
emergency search and rescue
activities. Frequently, however,
no airplane was overhead and Use of the 406 MHz system will
the signal was not heard. The enhance the ability of the
need for an ever-present COSPAYSARSAT to locate the
listening and positioning system position of the distress site. The
became apparent. Consequently, 406 MHz beacon contains a
the COSPAShARSAT satellite message format that provides
system was developed to identification data, nationality,
Emergency monitor the ELT transmissions.
The system was designed to
type of user, and sometimes, the
type of emergency.
Transmitters alert the ground stations in the
event of an ELT signal and to Emergency Position
provide location information Indicating Radio Beacon
The transmitters are the links (not obtainable via overflying (EPIRB)
from the point of emergency to aircraft). Today, more than
the point of rescue. The 2 5 0 , 0 0 0 ELTs are in operation Known as the “floating
transmitters are built to survive by private and commercial beacon,” the EPIRBs are
crashes, hazardous terrain, and aircraft in the United States. employed by over 7,000
extreme weather. They are commercial or private marine
designed to send emergency Different types of ELTs are now vessels that venture into open
alerts and provide location being used, but all transmitters seas. The greatest expansion in
information through satellite include a stable frequency usage of COSPASEARSAT is
measurements. Signals sent on source, modulators, radio expected from the EPIRB users.
the 1 2 1 . 5 / 2 4 3 MHz frequencies frequency amplifiers, and Weather related dangers and
allow for location determination batteries. An omni-directional accidents, mechanical
within 20 km ( 1 2 miles) of the antenna, crash activation disabilities, or medical help
transmission site; signals sent on sensors, on/off/reset switch, requirements are among
the 4 0 6 MHz frequency allow cables, and mounting hardware common marine emergency
for location determination are standard equipment. During situations.
within 5 k m ( 3 . 1 miles) of the operation, the batteries will last
transmission site. The ability to between 24 and 48 hours at EPIRBs operate on the same
locate the precise signal point of minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit or frequencies and have the same
origin will improve even more lower. signal characteristics as ELTs.
as the transmitter technology The EPIRBs transmitting on the
and operational efficiency The first ELTs broadcast a 406 MHz frequency will
evolve over the next few years. characteristic audio signal on sometimes include within the
121.5 MHz and 2 4 3 MHz fre- message the “instant position
quencies. Although these listing” from the vessel’s latest
Emergency Locator transmitters had been designed update. The EPIRB is self-
Transmitter (ELT) for interaction with airplanes, activated by contact with water
they could also be used with or it can be activated manually.
The ELT became a vital satellites. Later, a more The EPIRB is waterproof and it
component of United States sophisticated ELT transmitting at floats. During operation, the
general aviation aircraft in the 4 0 6 MHz was designed batteries will last between 24
early 1970’s under congressional specifically for satellite and 48 hours at 20 degrees
mandate. Upon impact, the interaction. Fahrenheit or lower.
8 ~
Cooperation between
Ground organizations and countries
fosters the success of the
Segment COSPASlSARSAT mission. Both
SARSAT and COSPAS systems
are compatible with each other.
Life saving messages cross the antenna to receive the
international telecommunications unprocessed, real-time data at
network, regardless of political the 12 1.5/243 MHz frequencies
boundaries when lives are in the and preprocessed, real-time, and
balance. stored data at the 4 0 6 MHz
frequency downlinked from a
The COSPASISARSAT ground satellite on L-band (1544.5
segment is an intricate support MHz). The position of the
network that is continually beacon is determined from this
expanding to increase system information. Processing time for
efficiency. In the future, many the information is a matter of
countries will have LUTs and minutes and then the signal alert
MCCs to receive and process and location information are
data. Other participants will sent to the MCC. It is expected
have facilities to receive data that by 1987, there will be a
from MCCs to distribute to their total of 13 LUTs, with 3 in the
own RCCs. A network of United States, 3 in Canada, 1 in
Regional Data Distribution France, 4 in the Soviet Union, 1
Centers (RDDCs) is being in the United Kingdom, 1 in
developed for the efficient Norway, and 1 in Brazil.
distribution of global distress
data that are received via
satellite. Mission Control Centers
(MCCs)
Local User Terminals
(LUTs) The MCCs collect and edit
information from the LUTs and
That LUTs are the ground forward the data to the
stations that receive the distress appropriate RCC. If the
signals from the satellites. In emergency is located in another
the United States, the ground- country, the appropriate
based equipment consists of an international MCC is notified.
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geographically sorted and
As of early 1986, MCCs were distributed to the 11 U.S. Coast
located in the United States, Guard RCCs. Data relevant to
Canada, France, the Soviet inland downed airplane
Union, Norway, and the United situations are sorted
Kingdom. Specific duties vary geographically and transmitted
slightly in each country. The to the U.S. Air Force RCC (at
MCCs in the United States and Scott Air Force Base) and to the
the Soviet Union maintain and Alaska Air Command RCC (at
distribute satellite orbit and Elmendorf Air Force Base). With
status information. an international emergency, the
USMCC and the MCCs of other organization, the Civil Air
nations share information via Patrol. The U.S. Coast Guard
commercial communication responds to maritime incidents
lines. that happen within 320 km (200
miles) of the United States
Rescue Coordination coastline. From that point on,
Centers (RCCs) the U.S. Air Force continues the
search.
COSPAS/SARSAT provides early
alerts and valuable location Effective coordination,
information to RCCs that are in communication, and controls
charge of actual rescues. The ensure that every possible effort
The USMCC is located at Scott type of rescue effort varies is made on the part of search
Air Force Base in Illinois. In the according to the needs of the and rescue forces to locate each
future, NOAA will be assuming particular national geography emergency in a timely and
responsibility for the operation and available resources. In the accurate manner. The precise
of the USMCC, which will then United States, the U.S. Air Forc:e locations provided by
be located at Suitland, Maryland. coordinates inland airplane COSPASISARSAT help reduce
The USMCC receives ELT/EPIRB location and rescue attempts. the hours spent in search and
data from LUTs or international The U.S. Air Force frequently rescue attempts that often occur
MCCs. Data relevant to maritime works through its volunteer in situations very hazardous to
distress situations are auxiliary the rescuers.
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For Additional
Information