Patent ID: 6839520

Claim:
A method for implementing the interruption-proof operation of optical communication links between satellites in satellite networks comprising the steps of: emitting a beacon light beam having a large beam width from an optical terminal on a first satellite; detecting said first satellite beacon light beam using an optical detector on a second satellite; emitting from an optical terminal on said second satellite in the direction of said first satellite a responsive beacon light beam having a large beam width; detecting said second satellite responsive beacon light beam using an optical detector on said first satellite; using information from the optical detectors on said first and second satellites to adjust the direction of beacon light beam emission to achieve an acceptable degree of alignment between the optical terminals on said first and second satellites; after said acceptable degree of alignment has been achieved, emitting a narrow width optical beam from said first satellite optical terminal toward said second satellite; using said beacon light beams from the optical terminals of said first and second satellites to establish a service channel to aid in the continued alignment of said optical terminals so that said narrow width beam from said first satellite optical terminal can be adequately received by an optical detector on said second satellite.