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oai:figshare.com:article/33770608 2026-09-15T04:24:22Z category_89 portal_316 item_type_3 month_year_09_2026

Data Sheet 1_A systems-level analysis of energy, infrastructure, and economic viability of commercial hypersonic point-to-point (P2P).docx Alberto Boretti (17243941) Aerospace Engineering energy systems integration green hydrogen infrastructure hydrogen economy hypersonic transportation lifecycle assessment (LCA) multidisciplinary design optimization (MDAO) point-to-point travel sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) Introduction<p>Commercial hypersonic point-to-point (P2P) travel promises intercontinental flights in under 90 min, yet viability depends on systems-level integration of advanced technologies and infrastructure. This paper addresses the critical question of whether such travel can be technically feasible, economically viable, and environmentally sustainable within the coming decades.</p>Methods<p>We analyze two core technological pillars—Turbine-Based Combined Cycle (TBCC) propulsion and adaptive morphing aerodynamics—integrated within a multidisciplinary framework addressing thermal management. The central contribution is a coupled techno-economic model that quantifies interdependencies between propulsion efficiency, hydrogen costs, infrastructure capital expenditure, lifecycle carbon intensity, and operating costs. Liquid hydrogen (LH₂) is posited as indispensable due to its specific impulse and cooling capacity for air-breathing hypersonic propulsion.</p>Results<p>Three quantitative findings emerge: (1) green hydrogen must reach €2–3 kg⁻¹ by 2035–2040 for levelized cost of travel (LCOT) to fall below €0.60 passenger-km⁻¹; (2) a 100-aircraft fleet requires 1.65 Mt yr⁻¹ LH₂, corresponding to 15–20 GW electrolysis capacity and €10–20B capital expenditure; (3) well-to-wake emissions for green-hydrogen pathways range from 150–350 g CO₂e passenger-km⁻¹, representing a 70%–80% reduction relative to subsonic Jet-A operations.</p>Discussion<p>Commercial viability necessitates realistic deployment beginning 2035–2045, following a staged pathway, with 2030 reframed as aspirational for flight demonstration rather than entry-into-service. The path forward requires concurrent advancement across the entire value chain—presenting a system-of-systems integration challenge with hydrogen at its core. We conclude that while hypersonic P2P travel is technically plausible, its realization hinges on coordinated progress in propulsion, infrastructure, and green hydrogen production, demanding immediate and sustained cross-sector investment.</p> 2026-09-15T04:24:22Z Dataset Dataset 10.3389/fpace.2026.1946082.s001 https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/Data_Sheet_1_A_systems-level_analysis_of_energy_infrastructure_and_economic_viability_of_commercial_hypersonic_point-to-point_P2P_docx/33770608 CC BY 4.0