sonic boom

Lockheed Martin Corp. and NASA gave the public a sneak peek of a plane that could pave the way for cutting some flight times in half.  The X-59, which was unveiled on Friday afternoon in Palmdale, California, has been designed to fly faster than the speed of sound with much less noise. When planes break the sound barrier — called Mach 1 — a loud and continuous sonic boom is created that can shatter windows on the ground. The US banned civilian aircraft from reaching this speed over land in 1973.“This breakthrough really…

A first look at the X-59 before its rollout.Screenshot: NASACommercial faster-than-sound travel over land doesn’t happen anymore—but in the U.S., it could soon, with the debut of a new experimental plane developed by NASA and Lockheed Martin. The X-59 aircraft is designed to test out sonic boom-less supersonic flight, producing only sonic ‘thumps’ as it speeds through the skies.You can read all about the aircraft and NASA’s hopes for it here. But we know you want to see the plane, so click through for some early shots…

NASA’s freshly painted X-59 aircraft will be rolled out of its hangar on Friday, January 12, in the lead-up to its first takeoff. The experimental plane, built by Lockheed Martin, is designed to develop a quieter type of supersonic flight.Gamifying Physical Therapy With the PalmPlug OneThe X-59 is the keystone of NASA’s Quesst mission, which aims to demonstrate supersonic flight that only produces a sonic ‘thump’ rather than the deafening sonic booms that supersonic aircraft typically produce. The mission’s first flight…

NASA’s supersonic experimental plane—the linchpin of the agency’s Quesst mission—is set to roll out of its warehouse in the California desert next week. We’re gassed for the big moment: the X-59 has been in development for six years, and, if successful, it will demonstrate supersonic flight without sonic booms.Let’s Eat a Chocolate Xbox ControllerThe 99-foot-long (30-meter) plane is just 14 feet (4.27 meters) tall, making it look needle-like from the side. The single-engine jet will have a cruise altitude of 55,000 feet…

NASA conducted wind tunnel tests on a scaled-down model of its “quiet” supersonic jet in a bid to one day make supersonic flights flying over communities a reality. Currently, supersonic flights over communities are prohibited as the loud sonic boom could be disruptive. Sonic booms produce a lot of sound energy, around 110 decibels. NASA is trying to validate its boom-reducing technology and boom-predicting capabilities to make supersonic flights quieter and allow future travelers reach their destinations faster. This…