GSARSED
GALILEO SAR Service Early Demonstration

The MEOSAR system is devoted to providing benefits for the global SAR service, where the LEOSAR and GEOSAR systems are currently fully operational. As is normal in these systems, prior to distributing distress alert data from the MEOSAR system (IOC and FOC phases), a D&E phase has to evaluate the operational effectiveness and benefits to SAR services. GSARSED will test the performances of the algorithms; this will be the environment in which to prove extensively some of the components of SAR/Galileo (like TOA/FOA exchange) and to check its improved capabilities (i.e. faster localisation algorithms).

The MEOSAR system will provide considerable benefits to the global SAR service, enhancing the capabilities from both previous C/S systems. Some of these benefits are true global and continuous coverage, with a capability for locating all beacon populations and the Return Link Service.

Description

The following key aspects are applied: incremental SAR/Galileo service, SAR/Galileo end-to-end and SAR/Galileo interoperability.

The following considerations have also been taken into account:

• Sequential demonstration. The proposed demonstrations are to be performed sequentially since initial demonstrations do not provide the full functionality. Indeed, initial demonstrations plan to use emulators (e.g. CSNE, GMS-E emulators) for the elements which may be not finished.
• Multiple beacon equipment. There are several beacon models used during the demonstrations (SAR-BS, SAR-TB, FP7 SARBACAN) taking advantage of the best features for each of them.
• Galileo deployment schedule. The demonstrations are conceived to be independent of the constellation. Apart from the SAR/Galileo Space Segment, the system is compatible with DASS and is also intended to be so with SAR/Glonass.
• MEOSAR benefits to C/S. A monitoring demonstration is planned beyond the end-to-end demonstration of the SAR/Galileo service to assess the improvements provided by the MEOSAR system.
• Support to MEOSAR PoC and D&E phases. System demonstrations plan to give support to the PoC and D&E by incorporating the finished elements of the SAR/Galileo system.
• MEOSAR International FOA Test participation. This is in order to contribute to a suitable common TOA/FOA definition.

Objectives

The following points summarise the envisaged objectives to be accomplished during GSARSED:

• an early demonstration of the Forward and Return Link Service functionalities in a set of suitable scenarios. After this demonstration, the SAR/Galileo Service will become the first operative service of Galileo. These demonstration activities are based on the SAR community feedback;
• a demonstration of interoperability with MEOSAR Satellite components (such as GPS/DASS or SAR/Glonass);
• a contribution to the Cospas-Sarsat MEOSAR Proof of Concept (PoC) Phase by implementing a complete demonstration collection of the service and preparing the C/S D&E phase;
• the integration of SAR/Galileo infrastructure in the Cospas-Sarsat MEOSAR Service. SAR/Galileo will offer considerable benefits to the global SAR service by using the current Cospas-Sarsat system;
• wide dissemination activity regarding the demonstration of service that contributes to a gradual inclusion of navigation services and rescue operations based on the Galileo infrastructure. GSARSED plans to perform a collection of demonstrations aimed at showing the SAR/Galileo service capabilities in order to integrate it into the C/S SAR system and contributing to MEOSAR PoC and D&E phases.