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Now, more and more technology innovation and evolution have been used on the small satellite for remote measurement,
target searching and tracking missions being performed in space. To achieve the formation flying relative navigation, and
the formation flying relative control intelligently, or to implement some important missions, the inter-satellite relative
position must be known. In this paper, the measurement procedures of small satellite relative position are given. To get
precise result of inter-satellite relative position under general conditions and some specific conditions, laser ranging
method is one of the most valuable methods which should be considered. Although the laser ranging method is well
known, its application on small satellites in space is challenge to the typical conception. Through discussion of the
principles of laser ranging and characters in different conditions, the relations of the measurement reliability, the
measurement precision and the measurement condition are presented. The difference of the measurement in space and
that in general condition is mentioned. Because of the laser ranging specific characters in small satellites
formation-flying, some conclusion of laser ranging method will not be suitable for usage in space. The details of the
causation are discussed. The use of near frequencies scale to resolve distance measurement, which is widely used in
most project applications, is the major causation of that some conclusion of laser ranging method will not be suitable for
usage in space. And use of separate frequencies scale to resolve distance measurement in space still has its own
restriction. Then the modified laser ranging method using code modulation is designed. The parts of this method and the
solve arithmetic are presented. While, this laser ranging method may require help of other means to achieve the
continuous measurement of relative position in some specific missions. Finally, the outlook of the inter-satellite relative
position measurement technologies and the applications of inter-satellite relative position measurement are represented.
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