The French local user for the Sarsat demonstration and evaluation phase

The Sarsat programme - cooperation between USA, Canada and France - is intended to evaluate a search and rescue system by satellite. France participates to this programme and provides the spaceborne processor of the 406 MHz emergency calls. For the evaluation and demonstration phase, the CNES is studying a Local User Terminal (LUT). The 406-MHz on-board processed data will be processed in the LUT to detect and locate the 406-MHz emergency calls from distress platforms. The anticipated performances of the LUT and its characteristics to be evaluated during the demonstration and evaluation phase are presented.