Galileo SAR delivers best performance since declared operational in December 2016
The Galileo SAR reached new heights with a record-breaking location accuracy performance of 98.12% below 2km. The EU constellation is the biggest contributor to the Cospas-Sarsat MEOSAR system.
The Galileo Search and Rescue Service (SAR) was launched on 15 December 2016 to provide aid to people in distress or imminent danger. The Galileo SAR service relays highly accurate, timely, and reliable distress alert data to Cospas-Sarsat.
Under EUSPA management, the Galileo SAR Service has been introducing breakthrough features such as the Galileo Return Link Service which was declared operational in January 2020. Since then, the service has been going from strength to strength, consistently exceeding the minimum performance levels committed in the SAR/Galileo Service Definition Document.
Similarly, the SAR Galileo Forward Link Service (FLS) has seen the addition of new elements such as the SAR/Galileo calibration beacons as well as continuous upgrades of its ground infrastructure that are significantly contributing to excellent operability, performance and therefore overall SAR Galileo Service delivery.
Unprecedented levels of location accuracy for Galileo
The EU Agency for the Space Programme is committed to delivering top-notch satellite services which is why the dedicated Galileo team performs continuous quantitative controls to monitor key performance parameters (KPI) of the Galileo SAR service.
One of the most relevant performance parameters gauged is the “quality of the location service” or location accuracy. The said KPI measures the probability of success in locating any emergency distress with an error better than 2km and 10minutes within the declared SAR/Galileo Coverage Area. Thanks to a streamlined Galileo SAR service delivery and a robust infrastructure, the SAR/Galileo achieved an average location accuracy within a 2km value of 98.12% during December 2021, the best location accuracy performance since the start of the operations (see graph below).
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