“…Consequently, the optimization problem to solve is composed of 16 optimization variables, three inequality constraints and one equality constraint. To perform the optimization, the system-level optimizer is based on the Covariance Matrix Adaptation -Evolution Strategy [52], that proved to be efficient to solve such a problem [53,54]. In MDF with direct single shooting method, an evolutionary algorithm is used instead of a gradient-based optimizer as the propagation of gradient through the trajectory integration (e.g., using Runge-Kutta integrator in direct single shooting method) is challenging as a small modification of control law parameters may lead to a large modification of the launch vehicle states at the end of the trajectory.…”