Abstract: Space industrial design software is a “bottleneck” technology area that requires urgent attention in China's space industry. Space mission analysis and design software is the key software for the whole life cycle of space mission which is defined as the main root software in the space industrial design software system. This paper summarizes the development history and main functional characteristics of the most representative software product among them, the STK from the United States. On this basis, it outlines the inspirations by analyzing STK from the aspects of fundamental algorithms innovation, cooperation development mode and digitalization trend. Further, the feasibility of domestic substitution is analyzed by examining the characteristics of this type of software and by combining with the authors’ exploration and practice experience. Finally, the development thinking and policy suggestions for China's independent software are proposed.