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Topic: SARSAT rescues

A corporate jet resting in about five feet of water in Coos Bay, Ore., after skidding off the east end of the runway at Southwest Oregon Regional Airport

NOAA satellites helped rescue 300 people in 2025

March 3, 2026

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A corporate jet resting in about five feet of water in Coos Bay, Ore., after skidding off the east end of the runway at Southwest Oregon Regional Airport

Photo showing Coast Guard rescuimg 6 people who activated an Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) after their 48-ft fishing vessel began sinking off the coast of Oak Island, North Carolina, on December 8, 2024 (Credit: USCG).

NOAA satellites were pivotal in the rescue of 411 lives in 2024

January 16, 2025

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polar-orbiting satellite (POES)

geostationary satellite (GOES)

Photo showing Coast Guard rescuimg 6 people who activated an Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) after their 48-ft fishing vessel began sinking off the coast of Oak Island, North Carolina, on December 8, 2024 (Credit: USCG).

Photo of a U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Sitka rescue swimmer hoists a Royal Canadian Air Force search and rescue technician while conducting joint training in Sitka Sound, Alaska, Feb. 17, 2019.

NOAA satellites helped save 350 lives in 2023

January 18, 2024

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polar-orbiting satellite (POES)

geostationary satellite (GOES)

Photo of a U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Sitka rescue swimmer hoists a Royal Canadian Air Force search and rescue technician while conducting joint training in Sitka Sound, Alaska, Feb. 17, 2019.

A still photo taken from a video of a Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans MH-60 Jayhawk aircrew rescuing a boater from a capsized vessel near Slidell, Louisiana, on September 18, 2022. The boaters and their dog were safely rescued and transported to a nearby marina.

NOAA satellites helped save 397 lives in 2022

January 23, 2023

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polar-orbiting satellite (POES)

geostationary satellite (GOES)

A still photo taken from a video of a Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans MH-60 Jayhawk aircrew rescuing a boater from a capsized vessel near Slidell, Louisiana, on September 18, 2022. The boaters and their dog were safely rescued and transported to a nearby marina.

This image taken from a video shows a U.S. Coast Guard crew lifting a man to safety off Cape May, New Jersey. This SARSAT rescue was one of the 330 lives saved in 2021 aided by NOAA satellites.

NOAA satellites helped save 330 lives in 2021

January 31, 2022

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polar-orbiting satellite (POES)

geostationary satellite (GOES)

This image taken from a video shows a U.S. Coast Guard crew lifting a man to safety off Cape May, New Jersey. This SARSAT rescue was one of the 330 lives saved in 2021 aided by NOAA satellites.

An Air Station Houston MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew conducts a hoist of one of two mariners approximately 288 miles east southeast of Corpus Christi, Texas, on Jan. 2, 2020. The two sailors were aboard the 37-foot sailing vessel Rhapsody when it became disabled due to an engine room fire and activated their emergency position-indicating radio beacon for rescuers to locate them.

NOAA satellites helped save 304 lives in 2020

January 28, 2021

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polar-orbiting satellite (POES)

geostationary satellite (GOES)

An Air Station Houston MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew conducts a hoist of one of two mariners approximately 288 miles east southeast of Corpus Christi, Texas, on Jan. 2, 2020. The two sailors were aboard the 37-foot sailing vessel Rhapsody when it became disabled due to an engine room fire and activated their emergency position-indicating radio beacon for rescuers to locate them.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Wayne Ballard, a U.S. Coast Guardsman, throws a rope across to stranded sailor during a rescue in the Gulf of Mexico, Dec. 19, 2019. This rescue was one of more than 400 that were assisted by NOAA satellites.

NOAA satellites helped save a record 421 lives in 2019

January 23, 2020

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Petty Officer 3rd Class Wayne Ballard, a U.S. Coast Guardsman, throws a rope across to stranded sailor during a rescue in the Gulf of Mexico, Dec. 19, 2019. This rescue was one of more than 400 that were assisted by NOAA satellites.

A U.S. Coast Guard crew, a vital component of SARSAT, conducts ocean search and rescue training.

NOAA satellites helped rescue 340 people in 2018

February 14, 2019

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A U.S. Coast Guard crew, a vital component of SARSAT, conducts ocean search and rescue training.

NOAA polar orbiting (right), geostationary (middle), and the new GOES-R series (left) satellites are part of the SARSAT constellation.

NOAA satellites aid in the rescue of 275 lives in 2017

February 8, 2018

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NOAA polar orbiting (right), geostationary (middle), and the new GOES-R series (left) satellites are part of the SARSAT constellation.

NOAA polar orbiting (right), geostationary (middle), and the new GOES-R series (left) satellites are part of the SARSAT constellation.

NOAA satellites helped save 307 lives in 2016

January 19, 2017

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NOAA polar orbiting (right), geostationary (middle), and the new GOES-R series (left) satellites are part of the SARSAT constellation.

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