A method for optically transmitting useful data from a satellite to an optical reception terminal, wherein the satellite is equipped with an optical emitter adapted to transmit the useful data by modulation of a laser beam which is generated by said emitter, said optical emitter being rigidly fixed on a rigid platform of said satellite, and the optical reception terminal is equipped with an optical receiver adapted to detect the modulation of the laser beam when said laser beam is directed towards said optical reception terminal, the optical reception terminal being a reception station which is located on the surface of the Earth, and wherein the satellite is further equipped with a radiofrequency emitter, and the optical reception terminal is further equipped with a radiofrequency receiver, so that radiofrequency signals can be transmitted from the satellite to the optical reception terminal, the method comprising the following successive steps: /1/ before transmitting the useful data, determining on board the satellite position coordinates of said satellite from geolocation signals which have been previously received by said satellite, and transmitting by radiofrequency the position coordinates of the satellite, from said satellite to the optical reception terminal; then /2/ pointing a reception direction of the optical receiver of the optical reception terminal to the satellite, according to the position coordinates of the satellite which have been transmitted by radiofrequency; /3/ using a controller of the satellite, calculating a target emission direction for the optical emitter and controlling an attitude and orbit control system of said satellite to orient the optical emitter in accordance with the target emission direction, then optically transmitting the useful data from the satellite, maintaining the reception direction of the optical receiver of the optical reception terminal pointed towards the satellite, the target emission direction for the optical emitter being calculated by the controller of the satellite from a last geolocation of the satellite which was carried out, and from the position of the Earth in the rotation of said Earth about itself. and wherein the satellite is further equipped with a radiofrequency emitter, and the optical reception terminal is further equipped with a radiofrequency receiver, so that radiofrequency signals can be transmitted from the satellite to the optical reception terminal, the method comprising the following successive steps: /1/ before transmitting the useful data, determining on board the satellite position coordinates of said satellite from geolocation signals which have been previously received by said satellite, and transmitting by radiofrequency the position coordinates of the satellite, from said satellite to the optical reception terminal; then /2/ pointing a reception direction of the optical receiver of the optical reception terminal to the satellite, according to the position coordinates of the satellite which have been transmitted by radiofrequency; /3/ using a controller of the satellite, calculating a target emission direction for the optical emitter and controlling an attitude and orbit control system of said satellite to orient the optical emitter in accordance with the target emission direction, then optically transmitting the useful data from the satellite, maintaining the reception direction of the optical receiver of the optical reception terminal pointed towards the satellite, /1/ before transmitting the useful data, determining on board the satellite position coordinates of said satellite from geolocation signals which have been previously received by said satellite, and transmitting by radiofrequency the position coordinates of the satellite, from said satellite to the optical reception terminal; then /2/ pointing a reception direction of the optical receiver of the optical reception terminal to the satellite, according to the position coordinates of the satellite which have been transmitted by radiofrequency; /3/ using a controller of the satellite, calculating a target emission direction for the optical emitter and controlling an attitude and orbit control system of said satellite to orient the optical emitter in accordance with the target emission direction, then optically transmitting the useful data from the satellite, maintaining the reception direction of the optical receiver of the optical reception terminal pointed towards the satellite, the target emission direction for the optical emitter being calculated by the controller of the satellite from a last geolocation of the satellite which was carried out, and from the position of the Earth in the rotation of said Earth about itself.