Abstract: Full-scale test method were used to find out themechanical characters in spacecraft design. With powerfulcomputers and the accurate FEM technology, this method seems too expensive and time-concuming. FEM analysis and model updating technique can to replace most of the full-scale test. So, this paper summarized the development of structural dynamic model updating methodologies since 1970s, including the matrix updating methodology and design parameters updating methodology developed from the early 1990s. Then, this paper discussed the iterative method, perturbation method and optimization method, emphasized the statistical method which takes into account the error of test data and heredity method which could be used in complex spacecraft structure. After that, this paper mentioned the freedom accordance technique between test model and analysis model, sensitivity analysis of eigen-value and the validation criteria of the updatingresults. At last, this paper presented some key questions that need to be solved in this field.