Hypersonic ReEntry Deployable Glider Experiment (HEDGE): A CubeSAT Approach to Low-Cost Hypersonic Research; Balancing Innovation and Responsibility: The Societal, Environmental, and Regulatory Challenges of Hypersonic Flight Development

The race toward hypersonic flight has been guided by its transformative potential across all aerospace fields: military defense, commercial aviation, and space exploration. After researching in depth environmental policy and public accountability surrounding hypersonics research, I discovered just how large of a role regulations play in the design and construction of hypersonic vehicles and munitions. Yet, as a student researcher on the HEDGE (Hypersonic ReEntry Deployable Glider Experiment) project, I have been able to compare legal influence with actual aerodynamic design as it relates to innovation in the aerospace domain. My capstone and STS work converge on one central theme: the need for responsible technological advancement. The interplay between human, institutional, and technical systems dictates the trajectory of hypersonic development.

HEDGE, conducted at the University of Virginia under the RockSat-X launch initiative, is a year-long capstone project consisting of 12 fourth-year aerospace engineering students. It aims to demonstrate the feasibility of a low-cost, CubeSAT-scale hypersonic experiment using an exo-atmospheric sounding rocket launch opportunity. The cube-shaped satellite will be ejected from the sounding rocket at approximately 170 km above Earth’s surface. Data will be collected as it reenters the atmosphere. I serve as the communications lead, managing data transmission via the Iridium satellite constellation. As a whole, our team faces technical challenges such as attitude stability, thermal protection, and structural integrity at Mach 5. We use CFD and FEA tools to guide design iterations and mitigate localized heating on leading edges. Unlike other subteams, however, the communications team is defined by limitations surrounding data transmission rates. Due to a limited budget, we are only allowed to send messages every 30-60 seconds with each message only capable of holding 360 bytes at most. Additionally, public Iridium access is erratic and unreliable, so transmission attempts fail often. These guidelines define my work on the project and parallel the regulation struggles faced by many aerospace engineers in the industry.

My technical capstone has brought my attention to not only the technical, but also the social dimensions of the aerospace industry. Through Actor Network Theory (ANT) and historical case studies, my STS research brings to light the complexities involved in all aerospace feats. Regulatory frameworks like NEPA, the Clean Air Act, and the Outer Space Treaty impose strict environmental and procedural limits on hypersonic research. These rules were developed not just for public safety, but also to reflect values like environmental stewardship and cooperation between nations. My STS analysis also traces the interactions among defense agencies, environmental groups, and commercial aerospace firms. Military-affiliated companies may prioritize stealth and speed when designing aircraft, while other commercial organizations advocate for a more sustainable approach. ANT reveals that technologies evolve within these contested networks. Success is not governed purely by engineering ingenuity, but also by negotiations among interests, funding, and regulation.

In tandem, these two projects provide evidence that hypersonic flight is a systems-level challenge, involving technical, regulatory, and social competition. Ultimate success in the field requires integrative thinking across disciplines: engineers must consider sociopolitical dynamics and policymakers must understand material constraints. In practice, this translates to evaluating propulsion systems not only for efficiency via thrust-to-weight ratio, but also for NOx emissions, noise pollution, and impact on stratospheric ozone. As it continues to emerge in the aerospace sector, hypersonics research must account for all obstacles in the way, beyond just the technical aspects. Only by addressing all sides can we ensure that this technology becomes the force for global progress it has the potential to become.

School of Engineering and Applied Science

Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering

Technical Advisor: Christopher Goyne

STS Advisor: Sean Murray

Technical Team Members: Sydney Bakir, Franklin Escobar, Benjamin Petsopoulos, Cole Bixby, Nathan Kaczka, Cade Shaw, Jason Morefield, Michael Wennemer, Luke Dropulic, Zachary Morris, Caleb White, Arooj Nasir