In 1956, coinciding with the establishment of China's aerospace industry, the Beijing Institute of Aeronautics (renamed Beihang University in 1988) took the lead in China by establishing the Teaching and Research Section for Rocket Design and Rocket Propulsion, with Tu Shou'e and Cao Chuanjun serving as its directors. In 1958, the Rocket Department was formally established, offering majors such as launch vehicle design, liquid rocket engine design, solid rocket engine design, flight mechanics, automatic control, and remote sensing and telemetry. In 1970, due to changes in the higher-level administrative authorities, the university adjusted its internal structure according to academic disciplines, reassigning the majors of the original Rocket Department to relevant departments for management. It continued to cultivate talent and conduct scientific research in the field of aerospace technology. In 1988, to meet the needs of China's aerospace industry and scientific and technological development, the university decided to establish the School of Astronautics on the foundation of the original Rocket Department.

The School of Astronautics currently consists of three teaching and research institutions: the Department of Spacecraft Technology, the Department of Aerospace Intelligence Science and Technology, and the Department of Astronautics Propulsion. It boasts two "Double First-Class" disciplines: Aerospace Science and Technology (ranked first nationally and top globally in the Soft Subject Global Ranking) and Control Science and Engineering. The school offers master's and doctoral degrees in two first-level academic disciplines: Aerospace Science and Technology and Control Science and Engineering, as well as professional master's and doctoral degrees in three categories: Mechanical Engineering, Energy and Power, and Electronic Information. These disciplines and majors are all core to the aerospace field and serve as critical pillars for the development of aerospace science and technology.