One day, a satellite might save your life.
In late July, a mountain climber was struck by a falling rock near Mount Waddington, one of British Columbia’s Coast Mountains.
Despite the severity of the injury, the life-threatening accident was transformed into a rapid-rescue operation when the climber’s companion activated a handheld emergency 406 beacon.
Within minutes, a satellite in orbit had received and relayed the precise location of the emergency signal to the Canadian Armed Forces’ Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Victoria.
A helicopter was deployed to rescue the injured climber and fly them to a hospital.
Emergency responses like this occur every day in Canada, not only because it is the second-largest country on Earth, but also because it participates in the International Cospas-Sarsat Programme – a global network of satellites used to support search-and-rescue operations.
Since 1982, Cospas-Sarsat has guided the rescue of more than 50,000 people worldwide.
Its diverse membership includes China, Russia and the United States, all of whom contribute satellites or ground stations.
Emergency beacons connected to the network are required by law to be present on planes and ships.
They are also carried by any responsible person who ventures into the remote wilderness.
Apparently, saving innocent lives is an imperative on which otherwise antagonistic countries can agree.
During these dark times, space-based co-operation in search-and-rescue and disaster relief is a welcome recognition of our shared humanity.
Somewhere in Canada, or Russia, someone will need rescuing today.
And when they do, it might just be a satellite from another country that receives and relays the emergency signal.
Read more here: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-the-world-may-be-at-odds-but-satellites-are-a-reminder-of-our-shared/