The Canary Islands Space Center (CEC) of the National Institute of Aerospace Technology (INTA), located in the tourist heart of Maspalomas, recently became the hub for global rescue operations. The Canary Islands facilities hosted the institutional event commemorating the First COSPAS-SARSAT Global Search and Rescue Day, joining a global initiative by the international organization. The choice of Maspalomas was no coincidence: this is where the COSPAS-SARSAT Mission Control Center (SPMCC) in Spain is located, a strategic facility for the satellite-based emergency detection and location system.
The historic event at the CEC brought together a large representation of civil and military authorities, professionals from the SAR (Search and Rescue) field, and members of the program's Spanish working group. The presence included technical personnel from the Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centers (ARCC Canarias, Madrid, and Palma) and the Maritime Coordination Centers (MRCC Madrid-CNCS and SASEMAR Las Palmas). The main objective of the event was to pay tribute to the professionals who operate this global system—active 24 hours a day, 365 days a year—and to recognize their essential work in receiving and distributing emergency alerts, which is crucial for maritime, air, and personal safety.
The COSPAS-SARSAT system, based on a multi-orbital architecture (LEO, GEO, and the advanced MEOSAR), is a milestone that has contributed to saving nearly 70.000 lives in more than 20.000 operations worldwide. The Maspalomas Space Center (SPMCC) plays a critical role. Not only has it been key in the direct rescue of more than 3.000 people in Spain, but it also acts as the coordinator of the vital central-southern data distribution region, an area that encompasses northwest and central Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. With the constant incorporation of advanced technologies to shorten response times and improve the accuracy of incident location, the Canary Islands Space Center in Maspalomas is consolidating its position as a pillar of international cooperation and technological innovation in the service of saving human lives.
