Abstract AN EVOLUTIONARY OPTIMIZATION SYSTEM FOR SPACECRAFT DESIGN

Spacecraft design optimization is a domain that can benefit from the application of optimization algorithms such as genetic algorithms. However, there are a number of practical issues that make the application of these algorithms to realworld spacecraft design optimization problems difficult in practice. In this paper, we describe DEVO, an evolutionary optimization system that addresses these issues and provides a tool that can be applied to a number of real-world spacecraft design applications. We describe two current applications of DEVO: physical design of a Mars Microprobe Soil Penetrator, and system configuration optimization for a Neptune Orbiter.