Abstract: Amixoptimalalgorithmwiththebenefitsofbothglobalandlocalalgorithmswasproposedforfootprintoptimizationofreusablelaunchvehicle.Entryflightdynamicswasgiventodescribethefootprintproblem.Optimalbankanglecontrollawwasderivedbasedonthemaximumprincipleandtheconstraintsofthecontrolinputswerediscussed.Initialguessofparameterswasfoundedthroughgeneticalgorithms.Andthen,patternsearchmethodwasusedforrapidandpreciseparametersoptimization.Simulationresultsshowthattheproposedapproachprovidesaconvenientwayforrapidlyfindingfootprintwhileenforcingpathconstraintsandcontrolinputconstraints.

Key words: Reentryvehicle, Landingfootprint, Geneticalgorithm, Patternsearchmethod