NASA's Life-Saving Technology Saves Lives in Remote Areas

A personal locator beacon (PLB) developed by NASA and its partners has saved thousands of lives in remote areas where cell signals cannot reach. The device sends a distress signal to satellites, which are then relayed back to Earth, launching a rescue operation. Easton Barrett, a fisherman, credits a PLB with saving his life and the lives of his crew after their boat sank off the Gulf Coast of Mississippi. The PLB, developed by ACR Electronics Inc. , sends a signal to the Search and Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking (SARSAT) system, which alerts rescue coordination centers to mobilize search and rescue crews. The SARSAT system, developed partly by NASA, has saved over 63,000 lives since its inception in 1982. The system is an international collaboration with 45 nations contributing services, from operating ground stations to providing rescue crews.