The remote sensing of upper atmospheric environment is very important for understanding upper atmospheric structure, chemistry and energy cycle, and should be considered in some electro-optical engineering working within near space. The physical and chemical mechanism identified and the atmospheric parameters retrieved from upper atmospheric spectral radiance signal are important contents of upper atmospheric research. Based on rockets and satellites, the process of upper atmosphere sensed by the infrared spectra are reviewed, and some important results of remote sensing are summarized. These contents might be referenced in infrared remote sensing of the upper atmosphere.