🔍 Key Concepts

• COSPAS-SARSAT is an international distress alerting and search and rescue satellite system • Know what equipment types use COSPAS-SARSAT: EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon), ELT (Emergency Locator Transmitter), PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) • Distinguish between systems used for distress-only alerting vs satellite systems that also handle commercial / routine communications

💭 Think About

• Ask yourself: What is the primary and official purpose of the COSPAS-SARSAT system according to regulations and training materials? • Which satellite systems are associated with commercial communications, like phone calls, telex, data (e.g., Inmarsat), and which are dedicated to distress and safety? • Does COSPAS-SARSAT itself handle user-initiated commercial messages, or does it only forward automatic distress alerts to rescue coordination centers?

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify which option, if any, describes commercial messaging capability for COSPAS-SARSAT satellites • Confirm that COSPAS-SARSAT satellites listen on 406 MHz for beacon transmissions • Check which statement (if any) confuses COSPAS-SARSAT with Inmarsat or other satcom services that allow you to "select an LES" (Land Earth Station) and send commercial traffic