Genetic Algorithm for Launch Condition Optimization of a Spacecraft

A launch condition optimization with genetic algorithm (GA) for spacecraft rendezvous is presented. Impulsive increment velocity at the ideal boost point on the initial trajectory can be obtained by Lambert´s theorem and Keplerian equations. Relative to the centroid-time method, optimization methods for the launch condition by a standard genetic algorithm (SGA) and an adaptive genetic algorithm (AGA) are also considered. In these GA cases, the launch condition is encoded as a binary string, and a fitness function is constructed with the miss distance. Simulations with three degree-of-freedom models are designed, which consider perturbing force and the time-varying mass. The result shows that GAs can prominently reduce the miss distance comparing with the centroid-time method. Furthermore the AGA has more rapid astringency than SGA.