The 30th anniversary of the signing of the COSPAS-SARSAT Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was marked in October 2009 in Montreal. The multi-national search and rescue satellite aided tracking (SARSAT) system is credited with saving over 25,000 lives since it became operational in 1982.

In the mid-1970s, the Department of National Defence (DND) asked the Communications Research Centre (CRC) to explore the use of satellites to aid in search and rescue. Nations conducting similar research joined forces: France and the United States signed the SARSAT MOU with Canada in 1979, and the former Soviet Union with its COSPAS initiative, came on board later that year, resulting in the COSPAS-SARSAT program. COSPAS-SARSAT now involves 40 countries.

 

"What started out as an innovative concept on the part of CRC engineers and scientists turned, within a few short years, to a very successful operating system that has resulted in saving numerous lives," said Dr. Bert Blevis, then CRC Director General of Space Technology and Applications, and head of the Canadian delegation at negotiations that resulted in the COSPAS-SARSAT agreement.

In 1995, Dr. Blevis as well as other scientists and engineers from CRC received an Alouette Award from the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute for their contributions to the success of the COSPAS-SARSAT Program.

Today, COSPAS-SARSAT is transitioning to MEOSAR, which uses medium earth orbit satellites. In 2008-09, CRC conducted MEOSAR tests using its three antennas to track U.S. GPS satellites and, in the future, European Galileo satellites.

"It is rewarding to see that research and development done at CRC over 30 years ago is still being used today, and we are carrying it forward as we build the next generation satellite system with our international partners," said Jim King, who now works part-time on the COSPAS-SARSAT program, after retiring as Director of CRC's Major Satellite Communications Program.

For more information on COSPAS-SARSAT's transition to MEOSAR, visit www.crc.gc.ca/en/html/crc/home/info_crc/publications/technology_showcase/meosar

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