PURPOSE:To make a clear distinction between a solar light and a reflected light and to enable accurate execution of an attitude control by a construction wherein a relative position with a target space craft is detected by using a laser light modulated in the shape of a pulse by a chopper. CONSTITUTION:A chaser space craft 1 modulates a laser light to be shaped like a pulse by a chopper 5 and applies it to a target space craft 2, separating 6 spectroscopically a reflected light from a corner cube 3 and detecting one separated light as an electric pulse signal by a photodetector 7. This signal is used as a reference pulse signal. Meanwhile, the other light separated 6 is reflected by a mirror 8, divided in quadrants and detected 9 as electric signals. The electric signals in the quadrants are taken out in a phase detector 10 respec tively, X-axis and Y-axis components in the relative direction of the space craft 2 viewed from the space craft 1 are determined, and an angle of the mirror 8 is controlled by a drive motor 11 so that the electric signals of these components may approach zero, while the angle is detected. Thereby the relative positions of the space crafts 1 and 2 are determined. According to this constitu tion, an error in detection of the relative positions due to a continuous effect of a solar light can be prevented.
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