NASA’s quiet supersonic aircraft X-59 breaks the sound barrier for the first time

The experimental X-59 aircraft, developed by NASA with the goal of achieving low-noise supersonic flight, has broken the sound barrier for the first time, marking a significant milestone for the project.

Taking off from Edwards Air Force Base in California, the X-59 remained in the air for 81 minutes during its test flight. The aircraft reached a speed of 1,147 kilometers per hour, or Mach 1.1, at an altitude of approximately 13,000 meters.

What sets the X-59 apart is not just that it exceeds the speed of sound, but that it does so in a way that reduces the powerful “sonic boom” effect caused by traditional supersonic aircraft. The long, pointed nose design of the aircraft, developed by Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works division, is intended to allow sound waves to dissipate more softly.

The goal of the work carried out under NASA’s Quesst mission is to reduce the noise problem associated with supersonic flights over land. Due to this issue, strict restrictions on civil supersonic flights over land have been in place in many countries since the 1970s.

In the next phase of the program, there are plans to push the X-59 to higher speeds. The goal for future tests is for the aircraft to reach Mach 1.4, followed by flights over various regions of the U.S. to measure the sound heard by people on the ground.

The data obtained from these tests is considered critical for future regulations regarding whether quieter supersonic passenger flights will be feasible.