NASA S&R Tech: Saving, Enabling Exploration, Rescuing Brave Adventurers

Key Points:

• NASA-developed search and rescue technologies saved 350 lives in the United States in 2023.
• NASA provides technical expertise to the international satellite-aided search and rescue effort known as Cospas-Sarsat.
• Explorers can use emergency location beacons to send distress signals to a GPS satellite, which then relays the signal location to the Cospas-Sarsat network.
• NASA is incorporating search and rescue technology into astronaut missions as part of the Artemis campaign.
• Beacons placed on the Orion spacecraft for Artemis I helped locate the uncrewed capsule after its journey around the Moon.
• For Artemis II, astronauts will have second-generation beacons called ANGEL on their life preservers.
• The Search and Rescue office at NASA is part of the SCaN program and plays a crucial role in NASA’s exploration efforts.

NASA-developed search and rescue technologies saved 350 lives in the United States in 2023, and the same technology is now being incorporated into astronaut missions as part of the Artemis campaign. NASA provides technical expertise to the international satellite-aided search and rescue effort known as Cospas-Sarsat. Explorers can use emergency location beacons to send distress signals to a GPS satellite, which then relays the signal location to the Cospas-Sarsat network. These beacons provide a crucial lifeline for adventurers on land, air, and sea.

In 2023, various types of emergency beacons were responsible for 51 land rescues, 255 sea rescues, and 44 aircraft rescues, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NASA’s Search and Rescue office has a long history of developing Earth-based beacons, and that expertise is now being applied to support astronaut missions under the Artemis program.

For Artemis I, beacons placed on the Orion spacecraft helped locate the uncrewed capsule after its 1.4-million-mile journey around the Moon and back. For Artemis II, NASA is including second-generation beacons called ANGEL (Advanced Next-Generation Emergency Locators) on the astronauts’ life preservers. These beacons will help locate the astronauts immediately in the event that they need to exit from the Orion spacecraft without the assistance of recovery personnel. At-sea recovery testing for Artemis missions has already taken place, with search and rescue teams validating the ANGEL beacons and a new location tracking application called SAINT (SAR Intelligent Terminal).

The Search and Rescue office plays a vital role in NASA’s exploration efforts, ensuring the safety and well-being of astronauts and other explorers. The office is part of the SCaN (Space Communications and Navigation) program and operates in collaboration with various organizations, including NOAA, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the U.S. Air Force. These organizations work together to provide rescue capabilities in the U.S. region and rely on flight and ground technologies developed by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.