Satellite navigation can save your life (3) - Search and Rescue

This is a new service that will be offered by Galileo: search and rescue people sending an emergency distress signal (VHF 406 MHz) from anywhere on the globe. This is not about people involved in a car crash (where eCall can help), it is about ships in difficulties in the middle of the sea. There are already GEO (Geostationary Earth Orbit) and LEO (Low Earth Orbit) satellites for search and rescue services, but Galileo has two distinct features that will make a difference.

First Galileo will truely span the globe, so that the satellites will be visible from any point on the globe. Evidently the distress signal will contain the exact position of the sender. Secondly, Galileo will be capable to send back a return 'confirmation' signal (L-band 1544 MHz) that informs the sender that his signal has been received well by the search and rescue services. Experience has proven that chances of survival increase when people in distress know that their signal has been received! (image from ESA)