Niching genetic algorithms-based characterization of geocentric orbits in the 3D elliptic restricted three-body problem

This paper investigates the application of niching genetic algorithms to the characterization of families of geocentric orbits in the Sun-Earth spatial elliptic restricted three-body problem (ER3BP). The niching method used is deterministic crowding, which renders global optimization while permitting for several optimal and sub-optimal solutions to co-exist. This novel approach yields diverse probing of the state-space of the ER3BP. From the practical standpoint, the orbits found remain within a bounded distance from Earth, thus allowing high data-rate communication while ensuring safe operational environment far from thermal perturbations and visual occultations as well as Earth's magnetic and radiation.