Spacecraft Trajectory Optimization Suite (STOPS): Optimization of Low-Thrust Interplanetary Spacecraft Trajectories Using Modern Optimization Techniques

<p>The work presented here is a continuation of Spacecraft Trajectory Optimization Suite (STOpS), a master’s thesis written by Timothy Fitzgerald at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Low-thrust spacecraft engines are becoming much more common due to their high efficiency, especially for interplanetary trajectories. The version of STOpS presented here optimizes low-thrust trajectories using the Island Model Paradigm with three stochastic evolutionary algorithms: the genetic algorithm, differential evolution, and particle swarm optimization. While the algorithms used here were designed for the original STOpS, they were modified for this work.</p> <p>The low-thrust STOpS was successfully validated with two trajectory problems and their known near-optimal solutions. The first verification case was a constant-thrust, variable-time Earth orbit to Mars orbit transfer where the thrust was 3.787 Newtons and the time was approximately 195 days. The second verification case was a variable-thrust, constant-time Earth orbit to Mercury orbit transfer with the thrust coming from a solar electric propulsion model equation and the time being 355 days. Low-thrust STOpS found similar near-optimal solutions in each case. The final result of this work is a versatile MATLAB tool for optimizing low-thrust interplanetary trajectories.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

MS in Aerospace Engineering

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Aerospace Engineering

Year dc:date.available

2017

Author dc:creator

• Sheehan, Shane P

Contributors dc:contributor

• Kira Abercromby

• Optimization
• orbits
• interplanetary
• genetic algorithm
• differential evolution
• particle swarm optimization
• low-thrust

Identifier

10.15368/theses.2017.82

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:theses-3046