As a new generation of laser altimetry satellite, photon-counting laser altimetry satellite has better data coverage density and altimetry accuracy. The final altimeter data's accuracy is greatly influenced by forward scattering caused by cloud, aerosol layers, and snow blowing. The atmospheric detection algorithm of the photon-counting laser altimeter satellite is considerably different from that of the traditional laser altimeter satellite. This study focuses on the related technologies of photon-counting laser altimetry satellite atmospheric detection and summarizes two photon-counting satellites cloud aerosol transmission system and ICESat-2 from the aspects of system parameters, atmospheric detection technology, and inversion of atmospheric-related parameters, and the difficulties in atmospheric detection technology of existing photon-counting laser altimetry satellites are examined. The research on photon-counting satellite atmospheric detection technology in this study will promote the research on photon-counting lidars in China.