Orbital mechanics, optimal control, and improved methods for the numerical solution of problems in optimization. Recent work is in the application of optimal control theory to determine optimal low-thrust trajectories for travel from Earth to Mars, from Earth to the Moon, and from Earth to intercept a dangerous asteroid. Another focus of research is the application of new numerical methods for the solution of "differential games" problems including optimization of fighter vs. fighter air combat. Two Ph.D. students are presently working with Prof. Conway on the development of evolutionary methods (especially genetic algorithms) for the solution of “hybrid” optimal control problems, which arise in space mission planning
