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NASA's X-59: Breaking Sound Without the Boom
15 Jun
Summary
- X-59 jet achieved Mach 1.4, approaching its critical public noise data tests.
- The aircraft aims to eliminate the sonic boom for overland supersonic flight.
- NASA will soon fly X-59 over U.S. communities to gauge public perception.
NASA's X-59 supersonic jet recently achieved Mach 1.4 in a test flight, a significant step toward its mission to assess public reaction to its unique sound.
This experimental aircraft is engineered to surpass the sound barrier while producing a quiet "sonic thump" instead of a disruptive sonic boom. This capability is key to potentially lifting current bans on non-military supersonic aircraft flying over land.
Following its initial sound barrier break on June 5, the X-59 is undergoing envelope expansion tests. These tests prepare the aircraft for upcoming flights over selected U.S. communities, where data will be collected on how residents perceive its sound.
The insights gained from these flights are intended to help establish new noise standards for the future of commercial supersonic aviation. NASA began developing this quiet supersonic technology nearly a decade ago, with Lockheed Martin building the X-59 under a $247.5 million contract.
