麻豆映画传媒

During Top Gun: Maverick, Tom Cruise鈥檚 Pete 鈥淢averick鈥� Mitchell is challenged to fly at Mach 10 鈥� more than 7,500 mph 鈥� 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鈥檚 real fighter jets can only fly at speeds up to Mach 2. At 麻豆映画传媒, however, researchers are working to make that kind of acceleration a reality 鈥� unlocking speeds that could strengthen defense capabilities, transform travel and spur farther space exploration.

The average commercial airplane operates at a subsonic speed of 500 to 600 mph. Hypersonic propulsion can increase that to at least Mach 5 鈥� 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.

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.

At 麻豆映画传媒, 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.

鈥淎chieving Mach 10 is a challenging endeavor to begin with. 聽You鈥檙e 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. 鈥� Kareem Ahmed, 麻豆映画传媒 Hyperspace Center director鈥�

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

鈥淲e discovered the technology here at 麻豆映画传媒, by 麻豆映画传媒 students [and researchers], in 麻豆映画传媒 laboratories, and the entire world has started to capitalize on this technology,鈥� Ahmed says. 鈥淚n terms of the ability to have this building, it gives us the potential that we could realize this technology further.鈥�

鈥淎chieving Mach 10 is a challenging endeavor to begin with,鈥� Ahmed continues. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e 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.鈥�

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

鈥淭his partnership reflects the uniqueness of 麻豆映画传媒. Our location gives us, and our partners, an opportunity [to collaborate] that can鈥檛 be found anywhere else.鈥� 鈥� Kareem Ahmed, 麻豆映画传媒 HyperSpace director

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 鈥� close to 麻豆映画传媒鈥檚 main campus, industry and government agencies, and Florida鈥檚 Space Coast.

鈥淭his partnership reflects the uniqueness of 麻豆映画传媒,鈥� he says. 鈥淥ur location gives us, and our partners, an opportunity [to collaborate] that can鈥檛 be found anywhere else.鈥�

I looked at other labs to see which ones were doing similar hypersonic research. I realized 麻豆映画传媒 was really the only one.鈥� 鈥� Rachel Hytovick 鈥�20 鈥�24MS 鈥�25PhD, aerospace engineering alum and 麻豆映画传媒 HyperSpace Center researcher

In addition to evolving hypersonic technology, the center is helping launch students鈥� careers in the aerospace and defense industry. One of those rising stars is Rachel Hytovick 鈥�20 鈥�24MS 鈥�25PhD, an aerospace engineering alum who joined the center as a research faculty member this spring.

鈥淲hen it came time to continue my [graduate] education, I looked at other labs to see which ones were doing similar hypersonic research. I realized 麻豆映画传媒 was really the only one,鈥� says Hytovick, a Florida native who was inspired by rocket launches as a child. 鈥淣ow, with the HyperSpace Center, I鈥檒l be able to explore this field further as we have the space and resources to tackle scientific problems.鈥�