Attacking Satellite Path Planning Based on Genetic Algorithm

In the space attack defensive system, a satellite is usually used to attack another satellite. To approach the target satellite successfully, path planning is very important for the attacking satellite, especially when the defensive system of the target satellite is composed of formation flying small satellites. This paper presents an environment model that is established on the relative orbit model of small satellites and changed into a static model for path planning. A genetic algorithm is used to find the optimal path. The coding rules, fitness function, and three genetic operators are designed in turn. The fitness function is found by considering region constraint, safe constraint, shortest length constraint, and crooked degree constraint. The simulation results show that the optimal path can be found with good stability and convergence, and the optimal path could satisfy requirements of security and the shortest path well. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)AS.1943-5525.0000110. (C) 2012 American Society of Civil Engineers.