The ultra-high temperature materials (UHM) are essential materials used for the flight for a long time, reentry flight and crossover flight of aerosphere, which influences the research process of the flight and plays an important role in the success or failure of the flight tests. The research state and prospect of UHM, including carbon/carbon composites, ceramic-based composites, carbide UHM, boride UHM and, nitride UHM are summarized. The close attention are paid to the formation mechanism of texture, fatigue property, matrix modification and oxidation behavior of carbon/carbon composites as well as the preparation technology, mechanical property, oxidation and ablation resistance of ceramic-based ceramic composites and ultra-high temperature ceramic.The merits and drawbacks as well as the research keynotes of the UHM are discussed. The present problems and potential development direction of the UHM are also proposed.