The International Cospas-Sarsat Programme is a satellite-based search and rescue (SAR) distress alert detection and information distribution system, best known for detecting and locating emergency beacons activated by aircraft, ships and backcountry hikers in distress.

The International Cospas-Sarsat Programme (the Programme) began as a joint effort of Canada, France, the United States, and the former Soviet Union in 1979. It was formally constituted as an intergovernmental organisation in 1988 through the International Cospas-Sarsat Programme Agreement (the Agreement or ICSPA) signed by the four “Parties” to the Agreement: Canada, France, the USA and the former USSR. The Russian Federation replaced the USSR as Party to the Agreement in January 1992. Its secretariat is located in Montreal/Canada.

Including the four Parties to the Agreement, 45 States and 2 organisations (the Participants) are now currently formally associated with the Programme and actively participate in the management and the operation of the Cospas-Sarsat System (the System).

COSPAS(КОСПАС) is anacronymfor the Russian words"CosmicheskayaSistemaPoiskaAvariynyhSudov" (Космическая Система Поиска Аварийных Судов), which translate to "Space System for the Search of Vessels in Distress".SARSATis an acronym forSearch AndRescueSatellite-AidedTracking.

The System is available to maritime and aviation users and to persons in distress situations. Access is provided to all States on a non-discriminatory basis, and is free of charge for the end-user in distress. On average, about 5 persons are rescued every day with the assistance of Cospas-Sarsat alert and location data.The system is composed of:

-Distress beacons operating at 406 MHz;

-SAR payloads on satellites in low and medium altitude Earth orbit and in geostationary orbit;

-Ground receiving stations (LUTs) spread around the world; and

-Anetwork of Mission Control Centres (MCCs) to distribute distress alert and location information to SAR authorities, worldwide.

The International Cospas-Sarsat Programme provides accurate, timely, and reliable distress alert and location data to help search and rescue authorities assist persons in distress.

The objective of the Cospas-Sarsat system is to reduce, as far as possible, delays in the provision of distress alerts to SAR services, and the time required to locate a distress and provide assistance, which have a direct impact on the probability of survival of the person in distress at sea or on land.

To achieve this objective, Cospas-Sarsat Participants implement, maintain, co-ordinate and operate a satellite system capable of detecting distress alert transmissions from radiobeacons that comply with Cospas-Sarsat specifications and performance standards, and of determining their position anywhere on the globe. The distress alert and location data is provided by Cospas-Sarsat Participants to the responsible SAR services.

Cospas-Sarsat co-operates with the International Civil Aviation Organization, the International Maritime Organization, the International Telecommunication Union and other international organisations to ensure the compatibility of the Cospas-Sarsat distress alerting services with the needs, the standards and the applicable recommendations of the international community.