112 waterborne rescues, 15 aviation incidents, and 113 PLB alerts were facilitated by NOAA weather satellites that form part of the international Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking System, Cospas-Sarsat.
“From helping rescue a lost hiker to finding a capsized fishing vessel to providing the data and information that underpins our daily weather forecasts, NOAA satellites help protect lives and property every day,” said Chris O’Connors, NOAA SARSAT program manager.
Read more here:
http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2015/20150129_sarsatrescues_2014.html