The upper atmospheric research is of importance both in understanding the global change and the sun-earth connection and in applications of near space weather. It aims to understand and model the dynamical, chemical and radiative processes and their interactions in the upper atmosphere. The ground-based, high altitude aircraft, stratospheric balloon, rocket, and space-based observations have provided many data about the dynamical, thermal and chemical structures and variations in the upper atmosphere. This article will give an overview about the space-based observations which play an essential role in the upper atmosphere researches. Past, current and near future satellite missions and remote sensors for upper atmospheric observation and some important scientific results are summarized.