Local high school students from near Bari were able to peer into the world of search and rescue by touring some of the Cospas-Sarsat satellite station.
They learned how an alert progresses, and about the new functionality being developed with MEOSAR and the Return Link Service.
Read more here:
http://www.molfetta.ilfatto.net/index.php/cultura/9067-molfetta-il-liceo-classico-in-visita-alla-stazione-satellitare-cospas-sarsat
Translation:
Molfetta. Discovering the great things happening in our community is an opportunity and a privilege, especially when they are located in Puglia and representing them is someone from Puglia.
We are talking about Bari’s International Cospas-Sarsat Satellite Search and Rescue Station, headed by Frigate Captain Pantaleo Dell ‘Olio, originally from Bisceglie.
Classes II A and II B of Molfetta High School visited the International Cospas-Sarsat Satellite Station for search and rescue in Bari.
Cospas-Sarsat is a search and rescue programme that uses satellite technologies to locate endangered beacon carriers on land, sea and air. Italy, with the Ministry of Civil Protection, has committed itself to the spreading of alert messages to all nations. The visit was multidisciplinary: international jurisprudence, English language, biology, ecology, environment, Earth sciences, mathematics and physics.
It is certainly more interesting to replace a book lesson with a live one, listening to the active voices of the protagonists at their tasks and activities.
“The Cospas-Sarsat station, whose name derives from the use of Russian and American satellites respectively”, explains Commander Dell’Olio, “deals with naval, terrestrial and airborne sea and naval defense in case of search and rescue and terrorist attacks in areas without coverage or as a result of sudden events that have prevented the sending of alarm signals. The station was activated in Italy in 1966 and entrusted to the body of the Coast Guard after the Memorandum of Understanding of Canada, France, the Soviet Union and the United States was signed in 1979: it is the only one in Italy and covers an area of responsibility that includes 20 countries. The system serves PLB, EPIRB and ELT beacon users, space (satellite) and ground (station) segments. The System is undergoing evolution: the Galileo system will allow 75 satellites to cover the area of responsibility every minute and the new beacons will allow feedback, i.e., the user will know if his alert has been transmitted.”
Rapid intervention of SAR teams increases the survival rate of the people involved, and the location of an accident reduces both the costs of operations and the risks to which the teams involved in search and rescue operations are exposed.
The Italian Cospas-Sarsat Satellite Station is located in Bari and has been operational since 1 June 1996 with DPCM 9 May 1996. It operates 24 hours a day For 365 days a year and is equipped with two dedicated antennas, one for the LEOSAR system and one for the GEOSAR system. The Satellite Station is able to receive and locate emergency signal transmitters (EPIRB-ELT-PLB) that transmit on the 406 MHz digital frequency.
The students visited the Command Center, where it was possible to observe practically how an alert progresses, its verification, and the possible activation of rescue operations.
The students were accompanied by Professors Bianca Maizza and Giovanna Saltarelli.
Surely the kids will remember this experience because they have had direct experience of both the site and the commander, ready to satisfy their curiosity and answer their questions.