A method to control a sunlight acquisition phase of a spacecraft with a nonzero angular momentum of an axis DH. The spacecraft includes a solar generator configured to rotate about an axis Y. The spacecraft actuators are controlled to place the spacecraft in an intermediate orientation in which the axis Y is substantially orthogonal to the axis DH. The solar generator is controlled to orientate the solar generator towards the sun. The spacecraft actuators are controlled to reduce the angular momentum of the spacecraft. The actuators of the spacecraft engine are controlled to place the spacecraft in an acquisition orientation in which the axis Y is substantially orthogonal to the direction of the sun with respect to the spacecraft.