Hypersonic ReEntry Deployable Glider Experiment (HEDGE): A CubeSAT Approach to Low-Cost Hypersonic Research; Low Cost Airlines and Their Impact on the Commercial Flight Industry

In an increasingly expensive world, new models (both experimental and business) are being used to change the way that commercial flight occurs today. The capstone project discussed throughout this portfolio studies the idea of a low-cost hypersonic glider experiment that will reach speeds of up to Mach 5 upon re-entry to the Earth’s atmosphere. This project will demonstrate the effectiveness and low cost of CubeSat technology for hypersonic experimental measurements, including pressure, temperature, and positioning data. The STS research paper included in this portfolio discusses the ways in which Low cost carriers (LCC’s) have had an impact on the commercial flight industry, including other airlines and passengers. LCC’s are relatively new in the grand scheme of commercial aviation, so it is important to explore the ways in which these new carriers will change the industry going forward. These two projects are connected through the ultimate objective of reducing the costs associated with aerospace vehicles. While the STS research paper explores this issue from the commercial aviation side, the technical project explores it by advancing research techniques at a fraction of the current cost.

The technical project discussed in this portfolio, HEDGE (Hypersonic re-Entry Deployable Glider Experiment) allows hypersonic research to be completed significantly cheaper than it is currently. As of right now, the only options for hypersonic data are computer simulations or wind tunnel tests. Unfortunately, computer simulations are not always accurate, and they need to be compared against experimental data. Wind tunnel tests at hypersonic speeds are extremely expensive to run, and very few wind tunnels around the world are capable of generating this extreme flow speed. As a result, HEDGE will fill a gap by utilizing CubeSat technology to create a compact glider that can reach near hypersonic speeds upon ejection from a rocket. HEDGE will be launched from a NASA rocket at approximately 150 km above the Earth’s surface. It will then use gravity to speed up as it gets closer and closer to Earth, collecting data along the way.

Throughout the year, HEDGE has gone through several iterations of the deployable itself and its ejection system. As of now, the data collection system is functioning and able to receive power both by way of the on-board batteries and by way of direct connection with the NASA rocket. It is also able to autonomously connect with the Iridium satellite constellation, sending data collected by the deployable directly to the UVA ground station. The ejection system remains a work in progress as we approach launch in August 2025. This capstone project has been in the works for several years, yet we have finally reached the point where launch is in sight.

The STS paper in this portfolio explains how the different actors in the commercial aviation industry have had to adapt their operations or normal patterns due to the influx of LCC’s. This is extremely important due to the relative newness of many low cost airlines. The impacts of this new business model on the industry are still not entirely known, so understanding the effects that we are seeing is essential to predicting how the industry will change as more and more new LCC’s are being founded around the world. This paper utilizes actor network theory, a literature study, and case studies of Southwest Airlines and Ryanair throughout its analysis.

The Southwest airlines case study focuses primarily on a study conducted to determine how the average ticket price changed before and after Southwest Airlines entered the route pair. This showed that LCC’s lowered the average cost of airfare, even at surrounding airports they didn’t fly from. The Ryanair case study presents another case, where LCC’s don’t put the safety of their customers first, increasing passenger fear. The literature review also established how airports and manufacturers have become reliant on LCC’s for reliable business. Each actor continues to dynamically adapt within the industry as more and more LCC’s begin to take off.

School of Engineering and Applied Science

Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering

Technical Advisor: Chris Goyne

STS Advisor: Pedro Francisco

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