Abstract: The search coil magnetometers (SCMs) are based on the electromagnetic induction effect, with their good sensitivity, simplicity and high reliability, they are widely used in weak magnetic field investigations in the space missions. This paper reviews the main techniques and the related working principles in improving the performance of SCMs. The development of the SCMs and the applications in the space missions are discussed. By adopting a magnetic core, optimizing the coil structure and combining with another type of magnetic sensors, the performance of the newly designed SCMs are significantly improved. With the development of these techniques, the SCMs will have the potential of wide applications in the future space explorations.