Abstract: The formation configuration design of distributed satellite system is a key issue of(system) design.For the spaceborne parasitical synthetic aperture radar(SAR) which fulfills super-resolution imaging,a generalized approach of formation configuration design is presented from the point of system performance optimization.It is generalized as an optimal problem.The objective function is setted up,based on analyzing system mission.By using baseline vector as intermedium,the relationship of objective function and satellite orbit root is established.A genetic algorithm is used to solve the optimal problem.Formation systems with different number satellite are simulated by the optimal design approach.And system performances of them arecompared with those of(interferometric) Cartwheel and Pendulum.The simulation result provescorrectness and validityof the optimal method.