NASA SuperSonic Low Boom Airplane Concept

NASA SuperSonic Low Boom Airplane Concept

Handout- In the high desert of California, some of the most important aircraft in aviation history have been built and flown. NASAs X-59 QueSST (short for Quiet SuperSonic Technology) is an experimental piloted aircraft designed to fly faster than sound without producing the annoying if not alarming sonic booms of previous supersonic aircraft. It is the latest craft to take shape at Skunk Works, a renowned Lockheed Martin division that for the past 76 years has used a unique approach to design and manufacturing that has produced the nations most advanced airplanes. This artist's concept of NASAs QueSST jet reflects the airplanes final configuration following years of research and design engineering. The jet is now under construction by Lockheed Martin at the companys Skunk Works facility in Palmdale, California. Handout Photo by Lockheed Martin/NASA via ABACAPRESS.COM (Credit:ABACA/Kyodo News Images)

NASA SuperSonic Low Boom Airplane Concept

NASA SuperSonic Low Boom Airplane Concept

Handout- NASAs X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology aircraft, or QueSST, is designed to fly faster than the speed of sound without producing a loud, disruptive sonic boom, which is typically heard on the ground below aircraft flying at such speeds. Instead, with the X-59, people on the ground will hear nothing more than a quiet sonic thump if they hear anything at all. The X-59 will fly over communities around the United States to demonstrate this technology, but first, NASA will need to validate the X-planes acoustic signature, using a ground recording system. Handout Photo by Joey Ponthieux/ NASA via ABACAPRESS.COM (Credit:ABACA/Kyodo News Images)

NASA SuperSonic Low Boom Airplane Concept

NASA SuperSonic Low Boom Airplane Concept

Handout- NASA continues to make progress on the assembly of the X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology, or QueSST, aircraft, while overcoming challenges presented by the global pandemic. As early as 2024, NASA plans to fly the X-59 QueSST over select communities to gather information about how the public perceives the quiet noise the X-59 is designed to produce. While the assembly of the X-59 presses on at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works in Palmdale, California, the development of an all new, full scale experimental aircraft is a challenging undertaking. The integrated NASA and Lockheed Martin X-59 team is doing an amazing job given the challenging circumstances of COVID-19, said NASAs Low Boom Flight Demonstrator project manager Craig Nickol. The team has shown remarkable resilience, and were excited to see the visible progress on X-59 assembly and integration every day. (Credit:ABACA/Kyodo News Images)