PURPOSE: To stably catch a target object by processing an image signal from a visual sensor mounted on an artificial satellite, calculating the deviation of the target object from an image center and carrying out the directional control of the visual sensor so as to reduce the deviation.

CONSTITUTION: An image signal inputted from a visual sensor 5 is inputted into an image processing computer 6 to calculate the deviation of the target object from an image center. A visual sensor directional controlled variable calculator 7 calculates the turning angle of the visual sensor 5 for catching a target object in the image center based on the calculated deviation and outputs same to a servo circuit 8 to drive a visual sensor rotating mechanism 9 and carry out the directional control of the visual sensor 5. By this structure, even when the target object is in motion or even when the posture of the artificial satellite is varied, the target object can be stably caught.