Patent ID: 7561262

Claim:
A satellite metrology system for satellite formation flight comprising: at least one reference satellite and one secondary satellite wherein the reference satellite comprises: an optical source emitting a divergent light beam for at least partly illuminating the secondary satellite, transmitted via a lens; a main set of light detectors capable of detecting the light originating from the secondary satellite; a measuring circuit for detecting the detector or detectors that receive the light from the secondary satellite; wherein the secondary satellite includes at least one first reflector, which is a retroreflector, receiving the light received from the reference satellite and reflecting the light towards the set of light detectors of the reference satellite, and wherein the lens is an output focusing lens, the reference satellite possessing a first semi-reflecting device interposed between the optical source and the output lens for deflecting the light reflected by the secondary satellite towards the main set of detectors; the optical source is located at a distance equal to twice the focal distance of the lens; and the main set of light detectors is a detector matrix including a first nominal detector corresponding to the illumination point of the set of detectors when the secondary satellite is suitably positioned laterally with respect to the reference satellite and wherein the measuring circuit detects the distance separating said nominal detector from a detector illuminated by the light reflected by the secondary satellite, thus determining the lateral offset of the secondary satellite with respect to its nominal position.