CONTACT: Patricia Viets FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(301) 457-5005 9/14/95
The United States, Canada and France have signed an agreement that provides for their long-term support of an international search and rescue program, which uses satellites of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, through the year 2003 and beyond, the Commerce Department agency announced.
"This agreement underscores our commitment to the mission of saving lives and property," said D. James Baker, under secretary of Commerce for oceans and atmosphere and administrator of NOAA. Baker signed the agreement on behalf of the United States.
The search and rescue program, known as COSPAS-SARSAT, uses NOAA environmental satellites equipped with Canadian and French search and rescue instruments; Russian satellites and instruments; and a network of ground stations to pick up distress signals from pilots, mariners and land-based users. Since the inception of the program 13 years ago, more than 4600 lives have been saved. More than 30 countries are now associated with COSPAS-SARSAT as ground station providers or user states.
The COSPAS-SARSAT program was formed jointly by the United States, Canada, France and the former Soviet Union. The first satellite was launched by the former Soviet Union in 1982, followed by additional Soviet and U.S. satellites. Today there are six operational U.S. and Russian satellites involved in the program.
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Note to Editors: The U.S. Mission Control Center is located in Suitland, Maryland, in Federal Building #4. Reporters who wish to visit the facility and/or interview the chief of SARSAT operations should contact Patricia Viets at 301-457-5005.