Paper contents historical review of rise and the development of satellite passive microwave revealing parameters the system ‘Earth-atmosphere’ from very beginning in the middle 1960-s when theoretical substantiation the possibility of microwave remote sensing (RS) was proved by outstanding Russian scientist physicist–optician professor Kusiel S. Shifrin, collaborator of the Voeikov Main Geophysical Observatory till nowadays. Some examples of new contemporary practical applying of satellite microwave survey in geophysics are described. Author of the paper took part in the majority presented and discussed studies and some of them were done in frame of close cooperation with specialists from foreign countries including outstanding experts in RS from NASA as well participants the program ‘Inter-Kosmos’ (Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, German Democratic Republic and Poland).