Abstract: X-ray streak cameras are very important in inertial confinement fusion experiments. The characterization of the cameras should be carried out to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the experimental data. The temporal characteristics of the X-ray streak camera, such as sweep speed and temporal resolution, were calibrated for the first time on the 20 TW laser facility at High Power Laser and Physics Joint Laboratory in Shanghai. Results of the calibration experiments show that some of the specifications of the X-ray camera have changed compared with their nominal values. With these calibration data, the processing and the analysis of the ICF experimental results are turned out to be more creditable. 