Frequently Asked Questions    What is SARSAT? SARSAT is an
acronym for Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking.  The
United States is a founding party in the international Cospas-
Sarsat program.  What is COSPAS? Cospas is a Russian acronym for
“Space System for Search of Vessels in Distress”.  What is the
Cospas-Sarsat Program?  The governments of Canada, France,
Russia and the United States (the Parties) have signed an
agreement to provide for the long-term operation of the system
and to support the objectives of the International Maritime
Organization (IMO) and the International Civil Aviation
Organization (ICAO) concerning search and rescue.  In addition
to the four Parties and the two Participating Organizations (IMO
and ICAO), Cospas-Sarsat international participation includes 26
ground segment providers and 11 user states.  When was Cospas-
Sarsat Formed? The first Cospas satellite launch was in 1982,
during the same year, the first rescue using the system was
recorded.  The system was declared operat