The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
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Those in distress activate emergency beacons linked to the international Cospas Sarsat system, which picks up SOS messages via satellite and relays them to search and rescue authorities. The flashlight-sized emergency beacon transmits at 406 Mhz. This signal is picked up by participating satellites – Galileo being the single biggest contributor. Uniquely, Galileo satellites inform those in distress that their signal has been received, via their ‘Return Link Service’. The signals are relayed to regional ‘Local User Terminals’ around the globe. Four such stations were constructed as part of the Galileo system – three at the corners of Europe and a fourth in the Indian Ocean. These stations pass on the information to the nearest search and rescue site to send help. The aim is to localise an SOS call to within 2 km in 10 minutes or less. Galileo has already contributed to the saving of thousands of lives.