Optimal continuous thrust orbit transfer using evolutionary algorithms

A simplified technique for searching for the initial costate values using evolutionary strategies (ES) was presented. A representative low-Earth-orbit (LEO) to geostationary-Earth-orbit (GEO) transfer problem with constant continuous thrust acceleration was examined. The use of ESs for an optimal orbit transfer problem from LEO to GEO was achieved using various searching domain widths. It was concluded that ESs appear to be capable of finding initial sets of adjoint variables, although they do not always find the global solution due to the randomized process in the algorithms.