Abstract: With the development of space science, distribution of tremendous amounts of space science data requires a data service system of high interoperability, seamless connectivity, and accessibility/global-search support. As a result, a proper grid-based architecture for virtual observatory to deal with the massive growth of data becomes necessary and inevitable. In this paper, aiming to fit the characteristics of applied research in space science, we study a hyberid architecture of virtual observatory from three aspects-conceptual framework, topology, and service model. This architecture has incorporated achievements in the research of space science virtual observatories of China and abroad. We further propose a prototype of space science virtual observatory based on this architecture so that synchronization service for data-harvesting, formatted pipeline, and even correlation discovery are supparted. Experience shows that such a VO has wide applicability in handling issues such as real-time synchronizing, high-level integration of heterogeneous applications, and science-oriented data mining of global resources.