DEVICE AND METHOD FOR OPTICAL COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN A SMALL AUTONOMOUS GROUND TERMINAL AND A SATELLITE

The invention relates to a system for communicating by optical link between a terminal arranged at a point that is stationary relative to the surface of the earth, referred to as "ground terminal," having a directional optical transmitter and a remote relay that is movable relative to the ground terminal, the ground terminal comprising means for the automatic orientation in terms of elevation and azimuth of the directional optical transmitter to the remote relay, with a precision that is compatible with the establishment of an optical communication between the stationary terminal and the remote relay. The ground terminal preferably also comprises autonomous power supply means. L'invention vise un système de communication par liaison optique entre un terminal disposé en un point fixe relativement à la surface terrestre, dit "terminal sol" disposant d'un émetteur optique directionnel, et un relais distant, mobile relativement au terminal sol, le terminal sol comportant des moyens d'orientation automatique de l'émetteur optique directionnel en élévation et azimut vers le relais distant, avec une précision compatible avec l'établissement d'une communication optique entre le terminal fixe et le relais distant. Préférentiellement, le terminal sol comporte également des moyens d'alimentation autonome en énergie.