ISU Symposium The Public Face of Space Strasbourg, France 16 18 February 2010 The International Cospas-Sarsat Programme: A quiet and sustainable success story Dany St-Pierre Cospas-Sarsat Secretariat ISU Symposium: The Public Montreal, Face of Space Canada 16-18 February 2010 Source: CNES D. Ducros 1
Cospas-Sarsat History International Cooperation In 1978 Canada, France and the USA agree to co-operate on the development of the SARSAT low-altitude polar orbiting system to: Locate existing 121.5 MHz beacons Develop new 406 MHz technology for improved performance During the same period the USSR was also considering a satellite concept aimed at detecting and locating ships in distress worldwide also using the 406 MHz band, the COSPAS project. In these cold-war times, policy makers were eager to show the benefits of space applications to ordinary citizens. A joint EAST-West search and rescue satellite experiment with a humanitarian purpose, no exchange of funds and no technology transfer was an ideal vehicle of cooperation. The four countries declared their interest in co-operating and ensuring the inter-operability of their systems in an MOU signed in 1979. The Cospas-Sarsat programme was officially established in 1980. 2
Cospas-Sarsat History International Cooperation International Cospas-Sarsat Programme Agreement (ICSPA) signed on July 1, 1988 among the governments of Canada, France, the former U.S.S.R and the United States. ICSPA ensures continuity of the space system and availability to all States on a non-discriminatory basis Cospas-Sarsat Programme is moved to Montreal in April 2005. The Programme acquires the legal status of a corporate body and all the privileges of an international organisation. 16-18 February 2010 3
International Cospas-Sarsat Programme Mission Statement The International Cospas-Sarsat Programme provide accurate, timely and reliable distress alert and location data to help search and rescue authorities assist person persons in distress. Strategy Cospas-Sarsat Participants implement, maintain, co-ordinate and operate a satellite system capable of detecting distress alert transmission from radiobeacons and of determining their position anywhere on the globe. The distress alert and location data is provided by Cospas-Sarsat Participants to the responsible SAR services. Services are provided world-wide and free of charge for the user in distress. ISU Symposium: The Public Face of Space 4
Cospas-Sarsat Overview Participating Countries in 1988 4 Founders: Canada, France, Soviet Union and the USA 25 Ground Segment Providers 10 User States 2 Organisations Algeria Argentina Australia Brazil Canada Chile China (P.R.) Cyprus Denmark France Germany Greece Hong Kong India Indonesia Italy ITDC Japan Korea (R. of) Madagascar Netherlands New Zealand Nigeria Norway Pakistan Peru Poland Russia Saudi Arabia Singapore South Africa Spain Sweden Switzerland Thailand Tunisia Turkey UK USA USSR Vietnam 5
Cospas-Sarsat Overview Participating Countries in 1993 4 Founders: Canada, France, Russia and the USA 13 Ground Segment Providers 4 User States 1 Organisations Algeria Argentina Australia Brazil Canada Chile China (P.R.) Cyprus Denmark France Germany Greece Hong Kong India Indonesia Italy ITDC Japan Korea (R. of) Madagascar Netherlands New Zealand Nigeria Norway Pakistan Peru Poland Russia Saudi Arabia Singapore South Africa Spain Sweden Switzerland Thailand Tunisia Turkey UK USA UAE Vietnam 6
Cospas-Sarsat Overview Participating Countries in 1998 4 Founders: Canada, France, Russia and the USA 17 Ground Segment Providers 7 User States 2 Organisations Algeria Argentina Australia Brazil Canada Chile China (P.R.) Cyprus Denmark France Germany Greece Hong Kong India Indonesia Italy ITDC Japan Korea (R. of) Madagascar Netherlands New Zealand Nigeria Norway Pakistan Peru Poland Russia Saudi Arabia Singapore South Africa Spain Sweden Switzerland Thailand Tunisia Turkey UK USA UAE Vietnam 7
Cospas-Sarsat Overview Participating Countries in 2003 4 Founders: Canada, France, Russia and the USA 22 Ground Segment Providers 7 User States 2 Organisations Algeria Argentina Australia Brazil Canada Chile China (P.R.) Cyprus Denmark France Germany Greece Hong Kong India Indonesia Italy ITDC Japan Korea (R. of) Madagascar Netherlands New Zealand Nigeria Norway Pakistan Peru Poland Russia Saudi Arabia Singapore South Africa Spain Sweden Switzerland Thailand Tunisia Turkey UK USA UAE Vietnam 8
Cospas-Sarsat Overview Participating Countries in 2010 4 Founders: Canada, France, Russia and the USA 26 Ground Segment Providers 9 User States 2 Organisations Algeria Argentina Australia Brazil Canada Chile China (P.R.) Cyprus Denmark France Germany Greece Hong Kong India Indonesia Italy ITDC Japan Korea (R. of) Madagascar Netherlands New Zealand Nigeria Norway Pakistan Peru Poland Russia Saudi Arabia Singapore South Africa Spain Sweden Switzerland Thailand Tunisia Turkey UK USA UAE Vietnam 9
Cospas-Sarsat History: The Satellites 1982 First Cospas satellite Cospas-1 (USSR) launched in June 1982. First rescue in September 1982 1983 Second Cospas and First Sarsat satellites NOAA-8 satellite (USA) with Canadian and French SAR instruments 1985 LEOSAR System declared operational 1998 GEOSAR system declared operational and integrated into Cospas-Sarsat 12
Some System Statistics GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF REPORTED SAR EVENTS FOR WHICH COSPAS-SARSAT DATA WAS USED (2008)
MEOSAR = SAR on GNSS* GPS, Glonass & Galileo Medium Earth Orbit ~20,000km *GNSS = Global Navigation Satellite System 20
Cospas-Sarsat Tomorrow: MEOSAR Russia (GLONASS), USA (GPS) and ESA/EC Galileo) to include 406 MHz repeater instruments on future medium Earth altitude orbiting (MEO) satellite constellations Backward compatible with current 406MHz beacons SAR components of constellations will be fully interoperable Space agencies coordinating with Cospas-Sarsat on specifications, compatibility, demonstration and evaluation phase MEOSAR Implementation Plan approved by Council Operational alerts could be available in the 2013 2015 time frame 22
Why MEOSAR? Improve speed and reliability of detecting and locating 406 MHz distress alerts Add features, e.g. RLS Allow Improvement of beacon features and affordability Modernize C/S for coming decades 24
Why MEOSAR? 25
The benefits of Cospas-Sarsat 1. Large (and growing) number of assisted rescues distributed worldwide. 2. Safer and reduced rescue operations cost (reduced false alert rate, reduced time for search) 3. A clear example of the benefits of International Cooperation 4. Enhanced sense of security for many users 27
Contributing factors in the success of Cospas-Sarsat 1. Identification and establishment of clear benefits. 2. Continuous monitoring of benefits 3. International Cooperation and support of international organisations 4. Adequate and appropriate (flexible) organisational structure 5. Customer involvement, participation and support 6. Ensuring early benefits and customer acceptance 7. And a bit of luck 28
Factors that were not essential in the success of Cospas-Sarsat 1 Typical business model 2 General Public recognition, support or even visibility 29
For More Info International Cospas-Sarsat Programme 700 de la Gauchetière Ouest Suite 2450 Montréal, Québec H3B 5M2 CANADA Phone: +1 514 954 6692 Fax: +1 514 954 6750 Email: mail@cospas-sarsat.int Visit Our Website! www.cospas-sarsat.org
The first rescue B.C. Canada, 10 September 1982