NASA announced earlier that its X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology experimental aircraft, developed in collaboration with Lockheed Martin for nearly a decade with the goal of eliminating sonic booms, has completed its maiden flight in California. This successful first flight marks a crucial step towards restarting the possibility of commercial supersonic flight on land.
The lifting of the ban in 2025 will bring new opportunities.
Because the US government signed on June 6 this yearAdministrative orderAfter the official lifting of the ban on supersonic passenger aircraft flying over the continental United States, which had been in place since 1973, NASA and Lockheed Martin have cooperated more closely, especially on research into the X-59, which has become more urgent.
The flight data it collects will be used to develop technologies related to commercial supersonic flight on land, and to provide key scientific evidence by studying acceptable noise thresholds during flight.
Flight tests validated initial performance, followed by community acceptance testing.
According to Lockheed MartinAnnouncementThe flight took place on Tuesday (October 28th), with the X-59 taking off from U.S. Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, and landing safely at its new base—NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center. Lockheed Martin stated, "The X-59's performance was fully in line with plan, validating its initial flight qualities and aerodynamic data."
Following the successful maiden flight, NASA and Lockheed Martin plan to conduct follow-up tests, focusing on measuring the X-59's "sound signature" and conducting "community acceptance testing" to assess the general public's reaction to the new supersonic sound noise.
The unique design aims to transform the "sonic boom" into a "hammer sound".
The ultimate goal of the X-59 project is to pave the way for future commercial supersonic flight (speeds exceeding Mach 1, approximately 768 mph), significantly reducing the time required to transport people and goods.
However, the massive sonic booms produced by conventional supersonic flight, along with the fuel consumption and air pollution associated with supersonic flight, led the United States to ban supersonic flight over land starting April 27, 1973, to avoid noise pollution and potential property damage.
To address this issue, the X-59 employs a unique aerodynamic design, including placing the jet engines on top of the fuselage and utilizing an extremely sharp and slender nose to disperse the shockwaves generated during flight. NASA in 2023...ExplainIf people on the ground can still hear the noise, this design should be able to significantly reduce the deafening sonic boom to "sonic thumps".
