NASA · Space

NASA Technology Aids Maritime Rescue

A personal locator beacon (PLB) utilizing NASA-developed Search and Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking (SARSAT) technology was instrumental in saving five lives after a boat sank off the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

During a fishing competition, a boat carrying five people sank rapidly. With no cell service, one team member activated a PLB, which transmitted a distress signal to orbiting satellites.

The SARSAT system, co-developed by NASA, relays these emergency signals to ground stations, which then alert rescue coordination centers. In this case, the U.S. Coast Guard was mobilized.

The rescued individuals emphasized the importance of PLBs for survival in remote areas where communication is impossible. They advocate for wider awareness of this essential safety gear.

PLBs are rugged, buoyant devices with a five- to 10-year battery life. They not only signal distress but also notify the owner's emergency contact.

The SARSAT system, operational since 1982 and internationalized in 1985, involves 62 satellites and contributions from 45 nations. It has been credited with saving over 63,000 lives globally.

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