Abstract: An optical-effectiveness analysis tool for satellite optical sensors was developed based on SolidWorks platform to improve efficiency and accuracy of the analysis. The tool was used to exam whether and when the sensors would fail due to optical problems during the satellite mission. Considerations about the optical-effectiveness analysis included: three levels of sensor effectiveness judgment: system effectiveness, group effectiveness and individual effectiveness; blinding: sensor would be blinded by satellite components or targets; light reflecting: sensor would be interfered by light reflected from planets or satellite components; motions: motions of targets, satellite body, satellite components and sensors. Software design solutions for these issues were proposed. The implementation principle for the effectiveness analysis function was introduced. And a five-step analysis process was presented: defining mission time, defining targets, defining component motions, defining sensors, and doing analysis. An example was used to demonstrate and validate the function of the tool.