Dan G wrote:
TBH I don't know how effective this method of "searching" will prove.
As is linked to above, the prototype of this method was the search for
a Microsoft employee who sailed out of San Francisco and was never
seen again (I worked on that one too). Although a number of yachts of
the right size were sighted in the images, they proved not to be the
Tenacious and Gray was never found. (Gray and the Tenacious are still
out there, somewhere, probably on the seabed by now). You can read the
blog that was used to co-ordinate the satellite search:

I'm skeptical as well, but I think it's an interesting technique which may
have some potential, so it's good that it's getting another test.

What is true, without doubt, is that a full conventional SAR operation
is launched for *anyone* who goes missing in an aircraft or boat,
whether rich or poor, or famous or not, and that's still a person's
best hope for timely rescue.

Indeed. There has been some complaining about the seemingly special
attention that Fossett is getting, but this satellite stuff appears to
be contributed by entirely private organizations, and if they want to do
that then that's their business. And if it leads to better techniques for
everyone then we're all better off in the end.

--
Michael Ash
Rogue Amoeba Software