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Cospas-Sarsat
International satellite-based search and rescue program that enables the rapid detection and location of people in distress.
About
Established in 1979 by Canada, France, the United States, and the Soviet Union, Cospas-Sarsat is the international satellite system for search and rescue. This treaty-based intergovernmental Programme detects and locates 406 MHz distress signals anywhere on the planet, then routes the alert to the relevant rescue authorities, free of charge, in more than 200 countries and territories. Since 1982, the System has helped rescue more than 70,000 people on land, at sea, and in the air. It is recognized by the International Maritime Organization and the International Civil Aviation Organization within the global distress and safety systems. Its Secretariat is based in Montreal.