Multidisciplinary Conceptual Design Optimization of Space Transportation Systems

Abstract

This paper presents a recent history of progress both in disciplinary modeling and in optimization methods and frameworks for space transportation systems conceptual design and analysis. The disciplinary models and process typically used for space transportation analyses are identified, including physicsbased and empirical models. The diverse characteristics of these disciplinary models require equally diverse integration and optimization approaches to enable implementation of automated, multidisciplinary design systems. Two general approaches are described for integrating these disciplinary models into computational frameworks for automated vehicle synthesis and optimization. Several optimization approaches are discussed including parameter, gradient-based, stochastic, and collaborative methods. Representative examples are given of multidisciplinary applications of optimization methods to the launch vehicle conceptual design problem. A primary goal for the future is to enable a space transportation design-to-cost capability.