Development of an economic and financial feasibility tool for hypersonic transport: case study of SpaceLiner
This thesis presents a computational tool developed to analyse the economic and financial feasibility of the SpaceLiner project, a hypersonic suborbital transport concept proposed by the German Aerospace Center (DLR). Given the SpaceLiner’s unprecedented scale and long development timeline, understa...
| Autor: | |
|---|---|
| Tipo de recurso: | tesis de maestría |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2026 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) |
| Repositorio: | UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC |
| Idioma: | inglés |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:dnet:upcommonspor::bd5c82b6b4a05cf6869286831620072c |
| Acceso en línea: | https://hdl.handle.net/2117/460966 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | Feasibility studies High-speed aeronautics Supersonic transport planes SpaceLiner Feasibility Computational tool Hypersonic Estudis de viabilitat Aeronàutica d'alta velocitat Avions de transport supersònics Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Enginyeria civil::Infraestructures i modelització dels transports::Infraestructures i transport aeri Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Economia i organització d'empreses::Direcció d'operacions::Direcció de projectes |
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Development of an economic and financial feasibility tool for hypersonic transport: case study of SpaceLinerGarcía Peña, Jose AntonioFeasibility studiesHigh-speed aeronauticsSupersonic transport planesSpaceLinerFeasibilityComputational toolHypersonicEstudis de viabilitatAeronàutica d'alta velocitatAvions de transport supersònicsÀrees temàtiques de la UPC::Enginyeria civil::Infraestructures i modelització dels transports::Infraestructures i transport aeriÀrees temàtiques de la UPC::Economia i organització d'empreses::Direcció d'operacions::Direcció de projectesThis thesis presents a computational tool developed to analyse the economic and financial feasibility of the SpaceLiner project, a hypersonic suborbital transport concept proposed by the German Aerospace Center (DLR). Given the SpaceLiner’s unprecedented scale and long development timeline, understanding its economic feasibility is essential for decisionmakers and stakeholders. The tool is built in Python and is designed to convert complex financial data into clear insights through tables and plots, based on a Pro Forma analysis. It allows users to input a wide range of project parameters and immediately view the resulting financial indicators. Inputs are grouped as Main or Advanced depending on their impact on key metrics such as Net Present Value (NPV), Discounted Cash Flow (DCF), and expected return. Special attention is given to variables that evolve over time, such as fuel and oxidizer costs, to reflect potential changes due to technological progress. This enables users to assess how uncertain or fluctuating inputs—like fuel prices or levels of public subsidization—affect the viability of the project. The program is validated by replicating results from David Sanchez’s original Excel-based model, confirming the tool’s accuracy and consistency. Furthermore, the system is designed for long-term usability, allowing updates when new data becomes available, so the model remains relevant as market conditions evolve. The results of the study are based on three core scenarios: base, optimistic, and worstcase. In the base scenario, the project shows positive NPV (€23.5 billion) and an expected annual return of 15.22%, but with a high initial investment (€116.6 billion) and an 18-year payback period. The optimistic scenario significantly improves profitability, showing a higher NPV (€177.3 billion), a 26.36% return, and a shorter 12-year payback, with public support reducing capital requirements. In contrast, the worst-case scenario reveals extreme financial risk: an unrealistic €1.2 trillion investment, a strongly negative NPV of -€972 billion, and no viable return metrics—highlighting how sensitive the project is to key inputs like fuel costs and engine lifespan. In conclusion, this thesis provides a valuable, adaptable tool for analysing the financial viability of the SpaceLiner project. It enables users to test scenarios, evaluate risk, and interpret results through a visual and interactive interface. The tool supports informed decision-making and can be a useful resource for researchers, investors, and users assessing the economic feasibility of advanced aerospace ventures under uncertainty.Universitat Politècnica de CatalunyaRodríguez Donaire, SilviaGarcía-Almiñana, Daniel20262026-02-0220262026-04-24master thesishttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_bdccNAhttp://purl.org/coar/version/c_be7fb7dd8ff6fe43info:eu-repo/semantics/masterThesisapplication/pdfapplication/pdfapplication/pdfhttps://hdl.handle.net/2117/460966reponame:UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPCinstname:Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)Inglésengopen accesshttp://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2Attribution 4.0 Internationalhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:dnet:upcommonspor::bd5c82b6b4a05cf6869286831620072c2026-05-27T15:37:01Z |
| dc.title.none.fl_str_mv |
Development of an economic and financial feasibility tool for hypersonic transport: case study of SpaceLiner |
| title |
Development of an economic and financial feasibility tool for hypersonic transport: case study of SpaceLiner |
| spellingShingle |
Development of an economic and financial feasibility tool for hypersonic transport: case study of SpaceLiner García Peña, Jose Antonio Feasibility studies High-speed aeronautics Supersonic transport planes SpaceLiner Feasibility Computational tool Hypersonic Estudis de viabilitat Aeronàutica d'alta velocitat Avions de transport supersònics Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Enginyeria civil::Infraestructures i modelització dels transports::Infraestructures i transport aeri Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Economia i organització d'empreses::Direcció d'operacions::Direcció de projectes |
| title_short |
Development of an economic and financial feasibility tool for hypersonic transport: case study of SpaceLiner |
| title_full |
Development of an economic and financial feasibility tool for hypersonic transport: case study of SpaceLiner |
| title_fullStr |
Development of an economic and financial feasibility tool for hypersonic transport: case study of SpaceLiner |
| title_full_unstemmed |
Development of an economic and financial feasibility tool for hypersonic transport: case study of SpaceLiner |
| title_sort |
Development of an economic and financial feasibility tool for hypersonic transport: case study of SpaceLiner |
| dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv |
García Peña, Jose Antonio |
| author |
García Peña, Jose Antonio |
| author_facet |
García Peña, Jose Antonio |
| author_role |
author |
| dc.contributor.none.fl_str_mv |
Rodríguez Donaire, Silvia García-Almiñana, Daniel |
| dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv |
Feasibility studies High-speed aeronautics Supersonic transport planes SpaceLiner Feasibility Computational tool Hypersonic Estudis de viabilitat Aeronàutica d'alta velocitat Avions de transport supersònics Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Enginyeria civil::Infraestructures i modelització dels transports::Infraestructures i transport aeri Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Economia i organització d'empreses::Direcció d'operacions::Direcció de projectes |
| topic |
Feasibility studies High-speed aeronautics Supersonic transport planes SpaceLiner Feasibility Computational tool Hypersonic Estudis de viabilitat Aeronàutica d'alta velocitat Avions de transport supersònics Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Enginyeria civil::Infraestructures i modelització dels transports::Infraestructures i transport aeri Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Economia i organització d'empreses::Direcció d'operacions::Direcció de projectes |
| description |
This thesis presents a computational tool developed to analyse the economic and financial feasibility of the SpaceLiner project, a hypersonic suborbital transport concept proposed by the German Aerospace Center (DLR). Given the SpaceLiner’s unprecedented scale and long development timeline, understanding its economic feasibility is essential for decisionmakers and stakeholders. The tool is built in Python and is designed to convert complex financial data into clear insights through tables and plots, based on a Pro Forma analysis. It allows users to input a wide range of project parameters and immediately view the resulting financial indicators. Inputs are grouped as Main or Advanced depending on their impact on key metrics such as Net Present Value (NPV), Discounted Cash Flow (DCF), and expected return. Special attention is given to variables that evolve over time, such as fuel and oxidizer costs, to reflect potential changes due to technological progress. This enables users to assess how uncertain or fluctuating inputs—like fuel prices or levels of public subsidization—affect the viability of the project. The program is validated by replicating results from David Sanchez’s original Excel-based model, confirming the tool’s accuracy and consistency. Furthermore, the system is designed for long-term usability, allowing updates when new data becomes available, so the model remains relevant as market conditions evolve. The results of the study are based on three core scenarios: base, optimistic, and worstcase. In the base scenario, the project shows positive NPV (€23.5 billion) and an expected annual return of 15.22%, but with a high initial investment (€116.6 billion) and an 18-year payback period. The optimistic scenario significantly improves profitability, showing a higher NPV (€177.3 billion), a 26.36% return, and a shorter 12-year payback, with public support reducing capital requirements. In contrast, the worst-case scenario reveals extreme financial risk: an unrealistic €1.2 trillion investment, a strongly negative NPV of -€972 billion, and no viable return metrics—highlighting how sensitive the project is to key inputs like fuel costs and engine lifespan. In conclusion, this thesis provides a valuable, adaptable tool for analysing the financial viability of the SpaceLiner project. It enables users to test scenarios, evaluate risk, and interpret results through a visual and interactive interface. The tool supports informed decision-making and can be a useful resource for researchers, investors, and users assessing the economic feasibility of advanced aerospace ventures under uncertainty. |
| publishDate |
2026 |
| dc.date.none.fl_str_mv |
2026 2026-02-02 2026 2026-04-24 |
| dc.type.none.fl_str_mv |
master thesis http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_bdcc NA http://purl.org/coar/version/c_be7fb7dd8ff6fe43 |
| dc.type.openaire.fl_str_mv |
info:eu-repo/semantics/masterThesis |
| format |
masterThesis |
| dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv |
https://hdl.handle.net/2117/460966 |
| url |
https://hdl.handle.net/2117/460966 |
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Inglés eng |
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Inglés |
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eng |
| dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv |
open access http://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2 Attribution 4.0 International http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
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info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
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open access http://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2 Attribution 4.0 International http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
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openAccess |
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application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf |
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Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya |
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Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya |
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reponame:UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC instname:Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) |
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