The invention provides an optimization design method of a common track emergency reconnaissance constellation based on a sun synchronous return orbit. Firstly, the longitude and latitude coordinates of a target center position, the satellite overhead time and the reconnaissance frequency requirements are inputted. Secondly, the orbital altitude, eccentricity and orbital inclination of the satellite are calculated. Thirdly, the Greenwich star time angle is calculated according to the satellite overhead time. Then, the true nearest point angle, the right ascension of the reference satellite andthe number of satellites in the constellation are calculated. Then, the right ascension of each satellite in the constellation is optimized according to the right ascension of the ascending intersection point of the reference satellite, the true nearest point angle and the reconnaissance frequency. Finally, the orbital altitude, eccentricity, orbital inclination, perigee amplitude, right ascensionand true proximity of each satellite in the constellation are output. By using the method, the emergency reconnaissance constellation which meets the requirement of target area coverage can be designed quickly.