Local User Terminals for Search and Rescue Satellites: Missed Passes, Interference and Simulation

Today we are witnesses of different distress events worldwide. Satellites are involved on search and rescue services. The SARSAT system is designed to provide location data and distress alert. RF emissions for different services are rapidly increasing, potentially to interfere with satellites dedicated for search and rescue services. Natural barriers and the very high construction patterns, create difficulties on communication of ground stations with low orbit satellites, especially under low elevation, resulting on missed passes. Considering that the mission of the SARSAT program is to rescue lives worldwide, analyses about the system performance related to interference and missed passes are provided. Since ground stations continue to be established in various locations, the simulation of a newly built ground station from the communication reliability perspective is provided as well. Analyses provided in this book should be useful to communication professionals, to Master and PhD students and researches towards supporting the new efforts on global satellite communications including emergency services for worldwide coverage.