Star sensor is an important device of satellite attitude control. The star simulator is used as a ground performance test and precision calibration equipment of the star sensor, of which accuracy plays an important role in the precision of attitude control. The composition and working principle of the star simulator are briefly described in this paper. In the last 20 years, the selection of light source for the representative star simulator with adjustable colour temperature has been emphatically described. LED, tungsten bromide lamp, xenon lamp and supercontinuum laser are the most common light sources. The development trend of colour temperature tunable star simulator light source is provided through a comparative analysis of these light source simulation schemes.