{"id":26183,"date":"2026-04-20T18:30:17","date_gmt":"2026-04-20T18:30:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/pegasus\/?p=26183&post_type=story"},"modified":"2026-04-20T18:30:17","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T18:30:17","slug":"hypersonic-horizons","status":"publish","type":"story","link":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/pegasus\/hypersonic-horizons\/","title":{"rendered":"Hypersonic Horizons"},"content":{"rendered":"

During Top Gun: Maverick<\/em>, Tom Cruise\u2019s Pete \u201cMaverick\u201d Mitchell is challenged to fly at Mach 10 \u2014 more than 7,500 mph \u2014 meeting, and even exceeding, the requirements of a U.S. Navy hypersonic airflight program. While such an on-screen feat makes for thrilling cinema, today\u2019s real fighter jets can only fly at speeds up to Mach 2. At 麻豆原创, however, researchers are working to make that kind of acceleration a reality \u2014 unlocking speeds that could strengthen defense capabilities, transform travel and spur farther space exploration<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The average commercial airplane operates at a subsonic speed of 500 to 600 mph. Hypersonic propulsion can increase that to at least Mach 5 \u2014 more than 3,836 mph. At that speed, a trip from New York City to London could take less than 15 minutes, making it possible to visit loved ones, catch a concert or close a business deal across the Atlantic before the day ends.<\/p>\n

In space, hypersonic travel could shorten the current three-day journey to the moon and increase the potential for humans to explore Mars and other planets.<\/p>\n

At 麻豆原创, the scientific minds behind these ideas are joining forces at the Center of Excellence in Hypersonic and Space Propulsion, or HyperSpace Center. Launched in October 2024, the HyperSpace Center is a first-of-its-kind partnership with the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research that provides a centralized physical location to advance hypersonic technology.<\/p>\n

\"Trustee<\/p>\n

\u201cAchieving Mach 10 is a challenging endeavor to begin with. \u00a0You\u2019re flying at 10 times the speed of sound, so this has to be a vehicle that has its own propulsion system, which provides that energy for that vehicle. \u2014 Kareem Ahmed, 麻豆原创 Hyperspace Center director\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In particular, the center will build on the work of Trustee Chair Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Kareem Ahmed<\/a>, including his development of the first hypersonic detonation rocket engine in 2020.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe discovered the technology here at 麻豆原创, by 麻豆原创 students [and researchers], in 麻豆原创 laboratories, and the entire world has started to capitalize on this technology,\u201d Ahmed says. \u201cIn terms of the ability to have this building, it gives us the potential that we could realize this technology further.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAchieving Mach 10 is a challenging endeavor to begin with,\u201d Ahmed continues. \u201cYou\u2019re flying at 10 times the speed of sound, so this has to be a vehicle that has its own propulsion system, which provides that energy for that vehicle. You have to bring a multifunctional team that actually addresses each of the components and subcomponents of it together.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Side<\/p>\n

That multifunctional team involves nearly a dozen 麻豆原创 faculty members, more than 60 graduate and undergraduate students, and five postdoctoral researchers, most of whom are 麻豆原创 alumni. The cohort of global scholars is exploring topics like combustion, high-temperature materials, and how to capture and measure the rapidly moving technology.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis partnership reflects the uniqueness of 麻豆原创. Our location gives us, and our partners, an opportunity [to collaborate] that can\u2019t be found anywhere else.\u201d \u2013 Kareem Ahmed, 麻豆原创 HyperSpace director<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In the past year, the HyperSpace Center has secured $11 million in research funding through an estimated 10-15 grants, according to Ahmed. Located in Central Florida Research Park, the center is ideally situated for this research, Ahmed notes \u2014 close to 麻豆原创\u2019s main campus, industry and government agencies, and Florida\u2019s Space Coast.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis partnership reflects the uniqueness of 麻豆原创,\u201d he says. \u201cOur location gives us, and our partners, an opportunity [to collaborate] that can\u2019t be found anywhere else.\u201d<\/p>\n

I looked at other labs to see which ones were doing similar hypersonic research. I realized 麻豆原创 was really the only one.\u201d \u2014 Rachel Hytovick \u201920 \u201924MS \u201925PhD<\/strong>, aerospace engineering alum and 麻豆原创 HyperSpace Center researcher<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In addition to evolving hypersonic technology, the center is helping launch students\u2019 careers in the aerospace and defense industry<\/a>. One of those rising stars is Rachel Hytovick \u201920 \u201924MS \u201925PhD<\/strong>, an aerospace engineering<\/a> alum who joined the center as a research faculty member this spring.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen it came time to continue my [graduate] education, I looked at other labs to see which ones were doing similar hypersonic research. I realized 麻豆原创 was really the only one,\u201d says Hytovick, a Florida native who was inspired by rocket launches as a child. \u201cNow, with the HyperSpace Center, I\u2019ll be able to explore this field further as we have the space and resources to tackle scientific problems.\u201d<\/p>\n

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