Hypersonic and space-access vehicles experience extreme temperatures that challenge conventional aerospace materials. While advanced materials such as ceramic matrix composites, carbon-carbon composites, high-temperature polymers and metallic superalloys have been extensively studied, successful vehicle designs typically rely on integrated thermal protection systems (TPS) rather than any single material solution.
In collaboration with industry, this project will investigate how structural materials, coatings, insulation systems and TPS concepts can be combined to support future reusable hypersonic vehicle development. Building on existing material selection studies and thermal load estimates, the student will develop simplified thermal models, evaluate candidate TPS architectures, and explore trade-offs between thermal performance, structural capability, mass, manufacturability and material availability.
The project provides experience in aerospace engineering, advanced materials, thermal analysis and engineering design, while contributing to the development of next-generation reusable spaceplane technologies in New Zealand
Supervisors
Primary Supervisor: Natalia Kabaliuk
Other Supervisor(s): Daniel Barry (Dawn Areospace), Jacob Rowney (Dawn Aerospace)
Application and funding
This is a UC Commitments Summer Scholarship research project. Emailed applications will not be considered. Find out more here: University of Canterbury Scholarship Portal - UC Commitments Summer Scholarship
Final date for receiving applications
25 September 2026
