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.

A few optical schemes for the future Russian astrometric satellite ('Struve') are discussed. New optical materials and techniques developed at the Vavilov State Optical Institute are planned to be used for the on-board telescopes. Optical characteristics of the reflecting Schmidt and a three - mirror scheme for the on-board telescopes are compared.