Abstract: An optical telemetry system and method for monitoring the location and status of a spacecraft (e.g., a satellite, a missile, a manned vehicle, etc.) using an optical communication link in an extraterrestrial environment. The system is optimally suited for monitoring the status and location of the spacecraft during a separation procedure of a spacecraft from its launch vehicle and uses a low-power optical communication link between a support craft and a spacecraft to obtain data. The data is then processed by the support craft and relayed to sources external to the support craft using the launch vehicle's telemetry system. Moreover, the system and method can also be used to monitor the status and location of an array (e.g., a three-dimensional array) of space vehicles traveling in space (e.g., an array of satellites).