Started with needs of the national strategy, the necessity of China’s oceanographic lidar developing was analyzed, the characteristics of the oceanographic lidar and domestic and overseas’ development of the spaceborne lidar’s were summarized, the future spaceborne ocean lidar’s development direction was put forward and expected on-orbit data application products was proposed. The key technology and solution of the spaceborne ocean lidar were discussed, the application prospect of developing the marine lidar was given during the 14th five year plan.