The invention discloses an identity-based authentication method for a space-based network, and aims to solve the problem of security authentication of a ground terminal and a satellite in the space-based network and improve the security of space-based network communication. According to the technical scheme, the method comprises the following steps: firstly, constructing an identity-based authentication system for a space-based network consisting of a ground terminal, a key generation center (KGC) and a low-orbit satellite; by an initialization calculation module of the KGC, calculating a system master key and public parameters; and by a private key calculation module of the KGC, calculating a corresponding private key and distributing the private key and the public parameters to the ground terminal and the satellite. When a terminal TEA gets access, bidirectional authentication and session key negotiation of a current overhead satellite LEOA and the TEA are carried out, then the LEOA and the TEA normally communicate with each other, if the LEOA determines that the LEOA is about to leave a current area at the end of service, inter-satellite switching authentication is carried out, if the LEOA determines that the LEOA is not about to leave the current area at the end of service, the LEOA and the TEA continue to communicate with each other. According to the invention, the size of the transmitted message is effectively reduced, and fast switching authentication and session key negotiation are realized while the security is ensured.