The Struve astrometric satellite which is being developed at Pulkovo Observatory in cooperation with Krasno-yarsk Institute of Applied Mechanics, S.I. Vavilov's State Optical Institute and some others space instrumentation institutes, will produce observations of a second epoch for the Hipparcos stars. The project is devoted to maintaining the Hipparcos coordinate system as well as extending it to a density of ≈ 100 stars per square degree. Possibilities of submilliarcsecond accuracy of observations with single aperture on-board telescopes are discussed. Requirements to the optical scheme and to the dynamic properties of the spacecraft are formulated. CCD and microchannel plates are discussed as a focal assembly detectors.

• V. N. YERSHOV(Pulkovo Observatory)