Polarization that reflects the directional characteristics of electromagnetic wave, provides unique information of electromagnetic wave other than intensity. In the interactions between electromagnetic wave and atmospheric particles, polarimetry is able to effectively improve the abundance and accuracy of satellite remote sensing observation, thanks to its high sensitivities to the physical properties of particles. And polarization can significantly enhance the detection capability of the complicated atmospheric components, such as cloud and aerosol. For the first time, four types of polarimetric satellite sensor were introduced for earth observation, including directional polarimetric camera, push-broom polarimetric imager, whisk-broom polarimetric imager and multi-channel polarimetric radiometer. The related and representative Chinese polarimetric sensors are listed, with their characteristic parameters introduced and detection abilities analyzed. Then, typical calibration methods of polarimetric satellite sensors are introduced, including pre-launch laboratory calibration, onboard calibration and in-orbit calibration. Given the advantages of extra observing dimension and accuracy, high sensitivity to particulate size and shape, and enhancement on retrieving weak atmospheric signal, polarimetric satellite sensors have the abilities to obtain comprehensive and accurate aerosol and cloud parameters over the earth. These spaceborne polarimetric sensors have broad application opportunities and enormous potentials in the fields of atmospheric remote sensing, including monitoring atmospheric fine particulate matters PM2.5, observation and retrieval of essential climate variables, monitoring and assessment of extreme environmental events, evaluation of aerosol ecological effects and high-precision atmospheric correction for earth observation.