Limb imaging spectrometer is an important new remote sensor for research and application of atmospheric remote sensing. The principle of atmospheric sounding using limb imaging spectrometer is analyzed. The prototype of grating dispersion type UV/visible limb imaging spectrometer is designed and manufactured. It consists of a broad-band refractive achromatic fore telescope optical system and a modified Czerny-Turner spectral imaging system. The fore telescope system is telecentric in image space and the spectral imaging system is telecentric in object space. It works over the spectral range of 540-780 nm (1st order) and 270-390 nm (2nd order). It records images from 540-780 nm when the visible filter in place,and 270-390 nm when the UV filter in place. The volume of the prototype is about 450 mm×250 mm×200 mm,and the total mass is about 8 kg. The test result demonstrates that the spatial resolution is 0.45 mrad and the spectral resolution of the prototype is 1.3 nm. Both spatial and spectral resolution satisfy the design requirement. The volume of the prototype is small and the mass is light,so it is suitable for spatial remote sensing.