My name is Manuel, i’m in 8th grade, and I’m an aspiring aerospace engineer currently developing a design concept for a hypersonic interceptor called the Hyper X. I’d love to get feedback from experienced engineers on the viability of this thermal-layering approach and any advice on the next steps for a student looking to break into high-speed propulsion and materials science.

My goal was to solve the extreme thermal and structural trade-offs of Mach 5+ flight by using a 'systems-first' approach. The design features a lightweight carbon fiber internal skeleton for high strength-to-weight, protected by a heat-resistant titanium exoskeleton skin. To manage the massive thermal load, I’ve integrated a multi-layer insulation system using carbon-carbon composites and a specialized thermal interface, alongside a regenerative cooling strategy that uses the fuel itself as a heat sink before combustion. For aerodynamics, I’m proposing a needle-nose 'Sears-Haack' body with an X-wing configuration to maximize high-speed maneuverability and banking stability. To keep the center of gravity constant as fuel is depleted, the design uses integrated, baffled 'full-body' tanks. Finally, to eliminate the drag of a traditional cockpit while maintaining pilot safety, I’ve replaced the windows with a 360-degree Distributed Aperture System (DAS) with sensors housed in retractable 'cubbies' to protect them from high-velocity particle abrasion.

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