{
  "id": 6642587,
  "title": "NASA’s Life-Saving Technology Where Cell Signals Can’t Go",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/10/nasas-life-saving-technology-where-cell-signals-cant-go",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-10T20:12:39.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "NASA Science",
    "slug": "nasa-science",
    "url": "https://www.nasa.gov/technology/tech-transfer-spinoffs/nasas-life-saving-technology-where-cell-signals-cant-go/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On Memorial Day weekend 2024, Easton Barrett and a group of five fishing enthusiasts found themselves in distress 40 miles offshore from Mississippi's Gulf Coast. Their boat succumbed to the water with alarming speed, leaving the survivors clinging to life jackets and coolers for survival. Barely equipped with a mobile phone and no cell service, Barrett had the foresight to store his device inside a cooler, hoping it would be discovered later by someone in need.\n\nThe desperate situation took an unexpected turn when one of the team members activated a personal locator beacon (PLB), a device designed to transmit distress signals to satellites orbiting Earth. This beacon, a ResQLink model from ACR Electronics Inc., is specifically engineered to operate even in areas where conventional cell signals fail. The PLB emitted a 406 megahertz distress signal, a frequency specifically designated for such emergency communications.\n\nThe SARSAT (Search and Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking) system, a collaborative effort between NASA and multiple nations, intercepted the distress signal. SARSAT operates an extensive network of satellites, ground stations, and rescue coordination centers, all working in unison to locate and aid individuals in peril. Upon receiving the alert, a Florida Coast Guard boat was dispatched to rescue the stranded fishermen.\n\nThe entire ordeal lasted approximately four hours, during which the fishermen struggled against the elements and the elements themselves. When the Coast Guard arrived, they found Barrett and his crew, battered but alive. This miraculous rescue serves as a stark reminder of the life-saving potential of PLBs and SARSAT technology, which have already contributed to the survival of over 63,000 individuals worldwide since the system's inception in 1982. Easton Barrett, himself a staunch advocate for water safety, continues to urge others to equip themselves with such essential survival gear, as it may just be the difference between life and death in emergency situations.",
  "summary": "Search and rescue technology developed in part by NASA saved five lives The post NASA’s Life-Saving Technology Where Cell Signals Can’t Go appeared first on NASA Science .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "NASA",
        "title": "NASA’s Life-Saving Technology Where Cell Signals Can’t Go",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/10/nasas-life-saving-technology-where-cell-signals-cant-go-6642595",
        "published": "2026-09-10T20:12:39.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}