This paper investigated the passive nonlinear vibration control method used for energy absorbing in structures of spacecrafts. The structure and the dynamic model of the nonlinear energy sink which could adapt to the space environment were proposed. As nonlinear spring could not be acquired easily in reality, we proposed a new design for the NES based on employing an asymmetric NES force which was generated by two pairs of aligned permanent magnets. Then, the dynamic model for a cantilever beam structure coupled with nonlinear energy sink had been built theoretically. In addition, the passive vibration suppression effect of the nonlinear energy sink on the cantilever beam structure under transient excitation had been analyzed through Galerkin method and numerical analysis method. The results showed that the NES acquired up to 92% dissipation of the system energy imposed by shock excitation, hence the NES could adapt to the space environment and improve the reliability of space system.