Satellites not only save lives by giving meteorologists advance warning of severe weather, but they were instrumental in the rescue of nearly 300 people in the United States last year alone.
The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration's polar-orbiting and geostationary satellites, and Russia's Cospas spacecraft work together as the Search and Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking System.
Since 1982, the system is credited with more than 18,000 rescues worldwide and about 5,000 in the United States, mostly -- but not all -- water rescues: Another 38 hikers, campers and hunters were saved by carrying personal locator beacons, which became available in July 2003.
More information on the system is available at http://www.sarsat.noaa.gov/.
1 comment:
It is so awesome what satellites really do--my nephew works with them as an aeronautical engineer and although most of his work is top secret, I know it's for the goon of the nation. Satellite images are so informative, especially when used for good intentions.
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