NASA’s X-59 Prepares for First Supersonic Flight
6 min read Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft flies over Rogers Dry Lake near NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. NASA continues expanding the aircraft’s flight envelope through a series of lower-altitude and slower-speed flights ahead of upcoming flight tests at speeds faster than the speed of sound. NASA/Jim Ross NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic
NASA's X-59 experimental aircraft is on the cusp of its first supersonic flights, a significant step in its development. The specialized jet will soon exceed the speed of sound, reaching altitudes of up to 43,000 feet at speeds over 630 mph. These initial supersonic tests are crucial for gathering data on the aircraft's performance under conditions similar to those planned for its Quesst mission.
Following these initial supersonic flights, the X-59 is slated to fly at Mach 1.4 (925 mph) at 55,000 feet. This phase is designed to test the aircraft's ability to fly supersonically while minimizing the disruptive sonic boom typically associated with such speeds. While these early flights will be accompanied by a traditional supersonic jet, obscuring the X-59's quiet thump, they lay the groundwork for future demonstrations over populated areas.
These tests are vital for advancing the possibility of overland supersonic commercial flight by demonstrating that aircraft can break the sound barrier without creating a disruptive sonic boom.
📌 Kaynak
Bu özet NASA Breaking News kaynağından otomatik derlenmiştir. Tamamı için orijinal habere gidin.
Orijinal haberi oku →