HEDGE-2: A Low-Cost Hypersonic Deployable Glider; From Beanie Babies to the Stars: CubeSats and the Democratization of Technology

Cost and accessibility barriers have largely prevented the participation of universities and smaller institutions in hypersonic flight research. The CubeSat framework can extend access to such research. The Hypersonic reEntry Deployable Glider Experiment (HEDGE) aims to expand access to hypersonic research through an affordable 3U CubeSat-based design. The 3U will be able to transform into a deployable glider, allowing for the collection of hypersonic flight data during atmospheric reentry following launch from a NASA sounding rocket. The design integrates onboard avionics, data acquisition, and telemetry systems to allow for the transmission of real-time velocity, temperature, and pressure data. By utilizing the small, standardized, and cost-effective nature of CubeSats, HEDGE lowers the financial burden of hypersonic testing and enables universities to conduct meaningful flight experiments for a fraction of traditional costs. CubeSats have democratized access to space, extending satellite development from government agencies to universities and companies. By comparing CubeSats to calculators, cameras, and personal computers, technological democratization is shown to be a means through which technology becomes more widely available. Standardization, reduced cost, and lowered skill barriers facilitate broader participation, helping reshape who can contribute to technological advancement. Therefore, CubeSats illustrate how democratization can alter the distribution of power behind technological development.