\documentclass[defaultstyle,11pt]{thesis} \usepackage{graphicx} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{hyperref} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{float} \usepackage{xfrac} \title{Designing Optimal Low-Thrust Interplanetary Trajectories Utilizing Monotonic Basin Hopping} \author{Richard C.}{Johnstone} \otherdegrees{B.S., Unviersity of Kentucky, Mechanical Engineering, 2016 \\ B.S., University of Kentucky, Physics, 2016} \degree{Master of Science}{M.S., Aerospace Engineering} \dept{Department of}{Aerospace Engineering} \advisor{Prof.}{Natasha Bosanac} \reader{Kathryn Davis} \readerThree{Daniel Scheeres} \abstract{ \OnePageChapter Much work has been performed recently to utilize the increasingly viable technology of low-thrust electric propulsion systems on missions of interplanetary scope. This thesis analyzes a technique for the initial analysis of feasibility of utilizing a combination of low-thrust propulsion systems and natural gravity flybys for missions to the outer planets. First, a method for finding local optima by utilizing an interior-point linesearch algorithm to directly optimize the entire trajectory as a Non-Linear Programming problem is presented. Then, a Monotonic Basin Hopping algorithm is utilized to traverse the search space, improve the local optima determined by the internal optimizer, and determine the global optima. This allows for a medium-fidelity, fully automated global optimization of the low thrust controls and flyby parameters for a given mission objective. } \dedication[Dedication]{ \begin{center} I'd like to dedicate this work to anyone with an interest in space. We're all exploring this together. \end{center} } \acknowledgements{ \OnePageChapter I owe just about everything that I am today to the circumstances that I grew up in and in no area of my life is that more apparent than in my loving family. I'd like to thank them for providing me with the emotional support I needed to grow confident in my own abilities and the logistical support I needed to nurture my curiosities. I'd also like to thank my girlfriend, Rachael, for supporting me through this process. This has not been an easy time for me, and I owe a lot to your support this past year. Finally, I'd like to give a huge thanks to Dr. Bosanac, who provided me with the structure I needed to stay on track, the motivation I needed to really get the most out of this paper, and the guidance I needed to finish this up. It's no exxageration to say that this thesis wouldn't be written to anywhere near the level of quality it was without you. } \emptyLoT \begin{document} \input macros.tex \input LaTeX/introduction.tex \input LaTeX/trajectory_design.tex \input LaTeX/trajectory_optimization.tex \input LaTeX/approach.tex \input LaTeX/results.tex \input LaTeX/conclusion.tex \bibliographystyle{plain} \nocite{*} \bibliography{thesis} \appendix \end{document}