Satellites Helped Rescue 283 People

NOAA's polar-orbiting and geostationary satellites, along with Russia's Cospas spacecraft, are part of the international Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking system, called COSPAS-SARSAT. This system uses a network of satellites to quickly detect and locate distress signals from emergency beacons on board aircraft and boats and from handheld personal locator beacons. 

When a satellite finds the location of a distress signal within the United States or its surrounding waters, the information is relayed to the SARSAT Mission Control Center at NOAA's Satellite Operations Facility in Suitland (MD, USA). From there, it is sent to a Rescue Coordination Center, operated by either the U.S. Air Force, for land rescues, or the U.S. Coast Guard, for water rescues.

Alaska topped the list for the most saves in the United States, with 49 lives rescued in 2008. Rounding out the top five states were: New Jersey, with 18 rescued; Florida, with 15 rescued; Hawaii, with 14 rescued; and California, with 12 rescued. 

Starting on 1st February 2009, NOAA satellites will only receive signals from the new 406 MHz frequency beacons. The older emergency beacons, operating on the 121.5 and 243 MHz frequencies, will no longer be detected by SARSAT.  Signals from the 406 MHz beacons can be detected instantly, are more accurate, and offer global coverage. NOAA has provided advance notice of the switch since 2000.