Mid-Earth Orbiting Search and Rescue (MEOSAR) Mid-Earth Orbiting Search and Rescue (MEOSAR) Transition to OperationsTransition to Operations

RCC Controller Conference

February 2010

Overview

DASS OverviewInternational MEOSARSpace SegmentGround SegmentUser (Beacon) SegmentProgram ActivitiesSummary

2MEOSAR Transition to Operations

Distress Alerting Satellite System (DASS)

Various studies determined that medium-earth orbiting (MEO) satellites provide a vastly improved space-based distress alerting and locating system.

NASA, with USAF Space and Air Combat Command, NOAA, and USCG are developing a capability on GPS satellites– Distress Alerting Satellite System (DASS)

DASS provides:• 406 MHz “bent-pipe” repeaters on GPS - Alert data downlink freely

available internationally

• Full compatibility with existing and future 406 MHz beacons

• Support for civilian and military SAR responsibilities

• Low technical risk, low cost

• DASS fully interoperable with similar proposed Russian (SAR/GLONASS) and European (SAR/Galileo) systems

Supports U.S. Policy on Space-Based Positioning, Navigation & Timing Policy – S&R on GPS

MEO vs LEO Coverage

5

Distress Alert Satellite System (DASS)

Current SARSAT systems in LEO and GEO

Beacon activation recorded within 10 minLocation determined within 1-2 hours with 5 km accuracy

GPS MEOSAR vastly improves capability

• Instantaneous Notification & Location

• Multiple Locations Means

• Global Coverage• 100% Availability• No Terrain Blockage• Improved Accuracy

NASA/NSARC led Proof-of-Concept includes repeater on GPS IIR, IIR-M, and IIF SVs

• S-Band downlink – not allocated for operational use

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SAR Aircraft

DASS Proof-of-Concept

DASS Proof-of-Concept (POC) underwayNine on-orbit GPS Block IIR satellites carry DASS repeaters12 Additional IIR satellites + all Block IIF satellites to host repeatersPOC system uses existing GPS. Downlink at S-Band (Not ITU-allocated for SAR)

Proof-of-Concept results to date:• Demonstrated ability to locate beacons to greater than current

Cospas-Sarsat accuracy using two or more satellites• System meets/exceeds theoretical capabilities• Tests are on-going

• Prototype ground station at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center• 4 antennas – capable of independently tracking 4 satellites• Completed in 2008

• Successfully passed acceptance testing• May become future operational MEOLUT

• Operational MEOLUT Wahiawa Hawaii• 6 antenna – capable of tracking 6 satellites either S-band or L-band• Planned completion Fall 2010

International MEOSAR Cooperation

European Commission / European Space Agency• Interoperability between SAR/Galileo and DASS part of US/EU

Agreement on GPS and Galileo• Interoperability to be addressed by Cospas-Sarsat

• Interoperability parameters specified in MEOSAR Implementation Plan• Declaration of Intent to Cooperate was signed in October 2006

RussiaUS/Russia Agreement on GPS/GLONASS interoperability under reviewAgreement in Principle (April 2003) for interoperability with SAR/GlonassTwo working groups established to address interoperability – WG-2 addresses search and rescue - 6th meeting of WG-2 in May 2009

Canada• Has agreed to supply DASS repeater instruments to fly on GPS Block III

• Contribution to DASS is worth approximately $90M• 30 June 2006 letter (Canadian National Search and Rescue Secretariat to

NOAA)• Similar to present SARSAT Instrument on POES

• High-level efforts to make DASS official mission on GPS in progress

• High-level discussions with GPS III program in progress

Cospas-Sarsat of Tomorrow: MEOSAR

Russia (GLONASS), USA (GPS aka DASS) and Russia (GLONASS), USA (GPS aka DASS) and ESA/EC (SAR/Galileo) working to include 406 ESA/EC (SAR/Galileo) working to include 406 MHz repeater instruments on future medium MHz repeater instruments on future medium Earth altitude orbiting (MEO) satellite Earth altitude orbiting (MEO) satellite constellationsconstellations

Constellations will be fully compatibleConstellations will be fully compatibleCoordinating with C-S onCoordinating with C-S onspecifications and compatibilityspecifications and compatibility Global detection + location:

Beacon without embedded GPS - greater than Cospas-Sarsat accuracy with 3 bursts or less Self-locating beacons - GPS accuracy after single beacon burst

Test alerts could be available in the USMCC Test alerts could be available in the USMCC starting in 2012 (Nine DASS test satellites starting in 2012 (Nine DASS test satellites currently in orbit)currently in orbit)

Space Segment

9MEOSAR Transition to Operations

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

SAR/Galileo

SAR/GLONASS

DASS

Combined

Deployment Phase

Full Constellation

Ground Segment

10MEOSAR Transition to Operations

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

53%

82%

98%

Deployment Phase

Global Capability

11

Ground Segment

Hawaii (6)

Perth (6)

Bangalore (6)

Ankara (2)

Kinloss (2)

Brasilia (2)

Beijing (4)

Toulouse (4)

Edmonton (8)

Maryland (4) Algiers (4)

Ottawa (4)Kinloss (4)

Ankara (4)

Brasilia (4)

#1: 01 January 2011 – 5 Satellites – 8 MEOLUTs (0%) #2: 30 June 2011 – 11 Satellites – 9 MEOLUTs (3.8%) #3: 01 January 2012 – 18 Satellites – 11 MEOLUTs (53.1%) #4: 30 June 2012 – 20 Satellites – 13 MEOLUTs (65.0%)

Moscow (4)

Maryland (6)Beijing (6)

#5: 01 January 2013 – 26 Satellites – 14 MEOLUTs (81.7%)

Goose Bay (8)

Wellington (6)

#6: 30 June 2013 – 30 Satellites – 14 MEOLUTs (83.1%) #7: 01 January 2015 – 31 Satellites – 16 MEOLUTs (98.4%)

Punta Arenas (6)

Cape Town (6)

#8: 01 January 2017 – 53 Satellites – 17 MEOLUTs (100%)

Ussurijsk (4)

dummy

User (Beacon) Segment

12MEOSAR Transition to Operations

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Studies

Requirement Definition

Modify T.001 Specifications

Beacon Development

New Beacon Sales

ICAO/IMO Updates

National Standards Update

Program Activities

13MEOSAR Transition to Operations

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

POC/IOV

D&E Planning

D&E

Development of Ground Segment Specifications and Data Distribution

Procedures

FOCIOC

Commissioning of Ground Segment Equipment

Summary

14MEOSAR Transition to Operations

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

FOCIOC

Space Segment

Ground Segment

New User/Beacon Segment

Development of Specifications and Data Distribution Procedures

Conclusions

15MEOSAR Transition to Operations

Space segment could be first component of system to be fully deployed (by 2013)

Full Operational Capability dependent on global deployment of a ground segment

Installation, location and schedule of ground segment deployment is highly speculative and provided for planning purposes only

Schedule assumes many concurrent activities

Some activities may be dependent on others for completion

Full Operational Capability not dependent on new beacons

Activities do not consider schedule risk