Murison concentrated on implementing genetic algorithms to search search the condition equations of the orbit-orbit distance-minimization problem for zeros (minima, maxima, and saddle points). The genetic algorithm infrastructure is now complete. Next up is to teach the program to automatically determine the number of zeros for a given set of parameter values (orbit shapes, sizes, and relative orientations) and use that as the genetic algorithm chromosome "fitness" function.

Murison and Behr (USNO) are been revising the design of the FTS adaptive optics hardware. The current design incorporates two achromatic lenses in the starlight path, and this causes the majority of a roughly 50% loss of throughput. The new design removes these lenses, adds the ability to inject calibration light (Mercury lines, white light, and green alignment laser) down the starlight fiber, and adds a new position calibration scheme (which will require modification of the AO control-loop program) to accurately place faint stars (m > 4) on the starlight fiber. (The FTS recently underwent modifications that increased throughput by a factor of ~20-30, potentially allowing the magnitude limit to increase to 6 or 7.)

Murison and Efroimsky (USNO) decided that it is necessary to create a numerical 3-D elliptic restricted three-body program in order to determine the distribution in inclination, semimajor axis, and eccentricity of asteroids that could have been captured by Mars, resulting in Phobos and Deimos. This fortunately coincides with Murison's plans to study the chaotic dynamics of transfer orbits through the inner Lagrangian point in the elliptic 3-D problem.

Murison's duties as DDA Secretary have continued their annual pre-meeting hecticness.