SARSAT - A satellite aided search and rescue system for location of distress radio beacons

The Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking (SARSAT) program is an international program between the U.S., Canada and France. The system uses low orbiting polar satellites and a network of ground stations to provide fast detection and location of the new 406 MHz distress radio beacons. This system appears to be superior to the 121.5 and 243 MHz systems in detection probability, position determination accuracy, worldwide coverage, quality of information received, and capacity for processing numerous simultaneous distress situations. It is shown that a reduction in mean waiting time for distress location can be accomplished by adding a specific memory for search and rescue data. An international demonstration and evaluation phase, to begin in 1982, will use the SARSAT in conjunction with the COSPAS system, developed by the U.S.S.R.