Abstract: In the context of cultivating innovative talents in aerospace, the China Trajectory Optimization Competition is held annually since it was established in 2009. A "4C" training pattern for postgraduates based on the "expert type" competition is formed. Driven by the challenging professional competition, it aims to improve the innovation ability of the postgraduates, promote the reformation of the professional courses, and promote the combination of the education with industry-university-research and the civil-military integration. Then the organization methods of the competition under the "4C" pattern include the following four aspects: closely following the demands of the country, cultivating scientific spirit, flexible organizational forms and holding special seminars. Finally, the main measures to push forward the "4C" pattern and the positive results obtained are summarized.