A method for optimizing low-energy transfers in the earth-moon system using global transport and genetic algorithms

This paper describes the methodology for developing an efficient automated global op-timization tool for spacecraft trajectory optimization in the three body realm. Building on the success of hybrid optimal control (HOC) formulations used by automated interplane-tary global optimizers, we have developed and implemented multi-level framework for the planar circular restricted 3 body problem (PCR3BP). In this paper, we focus our attention on discussing the use of genetic algorithms (GA) at the outer-loop level and a non-linear program (NLP) transcription at the inner loop level of the hybrid optimal control frame-work. Application of the HOC framework towards Earth to L2 missions show good results, expressed in the form a Pareo optimal fronts trading time-of-ight (ΔT) and total fuel expenditure (ΔV).