"Recently, NASA has revealed the rollout of a new jet, one that boasts incredible speeds."--Celesté Eagleton, 7th grade
In the realm of aviation, speed has always been a defining factor. From the first successful powered flight by the Wright Brothers, to the supersonic jets of the 20th century, advancements in aircraft design have continually pushed the boundaries of what is possible. One such groundbreaking project is NASA's X-59 QueSST (Quiet SuperSonic Technology), aimed at revolutionizing supersonic travel while addressing the longstanding issue of sonic booms. But what is the significance of the X-59 QueSST project? NASA claims it has potential to transform the future of air transportation.
Recently, NASA has revealed the rollout of a new jet, one that boasts incredible speeds. The X-59 Jet can go 925 mph, 1.4 times the speed of sound. Supersonic flight, defined as traveling faster than the speed of sound (at approximately 768 miles per hour or 1,236 kilometers per hour at sea level), offers the promise of significantly reduced travel times.
However, it comes with a significant drawback: sonic booms. These are shockwaves that occur when an aircraft exceeds the speed of sound. Generating a loud noise similar to thunder. Sonic booms have limited the use of supersonic aircraft over populated areas due to concerns about noise pollution and potential damage to structures.
Roselyn Min, a multimedia journalist based in Denmark and Sweden, shares speed on euronews. “Supersonic flights are flights that can travel at speeds faster than the speed of sound, and the X-59 is designed to fly at 1.4 times the speed of sound or around 1,480 km/h.” Min also shares that, “NASA and US defense company Lockheed Martin have unveiled their "quiet" supersonic aircraft after six years of development.”
As of December 2023 and early January 2024, the X-59's first flight is planned for 2024.
But, there was a problem. The amazing speed of the jet makes that sonic boom noise, and NASA had to fix it before moving any further on this project. On the NASA website, it says, “For 50 years, the U.S. and other nations have prohibited such flights because of the disturbance caused by loud, startling sonic booms on the communities below.” So to solve this problem, they have used shaping technologies that will allow the aircraft to achieve great speeds while keeping the volume down.
“The aircraft is set to take off for the first time later this year, followed by its first quiet supersonic flight. The Quesst team will conduct several of the aircraft’s flight tests at Skunk Works before transferring it to NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, which will serve as its base of operations,” reads the NASA website.
To address the sonic boom dilemma, NASA embarked on the X-59 QueSST project. The X-59, developed in collaboration with Lockheed Martin, is designed to achieve supersonic speeds while producing a softer, more tolerable sonic thump known as a "heartbeat" or "gentle thump." By shaping the aircraft's design to minimize the intensity of sonic booms, the X-59 aims to enable supersonic flights over land without causing disturbance to people and structures below.
From the design of the aircraft, NASA had to make more changes because of the arrangements, and some of these changes are listed on the NASA website.
“At 99.7 feet long and 29.5 feet wide, the aircraft’s shape and the technological advancements it houses will make quiet supersonic flight possible. The X-59’s thin, tapered nose accounts for almost a third of its length and will break up the shock waves that would ordinarily result in a supersonic aircraft causing a sonic boom,” writes Abbey A. Donaldson on the NASA website.
Additionally, the Low-Boom X-plane boasts a29.5 ft (9.0 m) wingspan for a maximum takeoff weight of 32,300 lb (14,700 kg).
The design idea came from Lockheed Martin, headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland. Lockheed Martin Corporation is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 116,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.
The X-59 QueSST incorporates several innovative technologies and design features to achieve its noise-reducing capabilities. One crucial aspect is the aircraft's long, slender shape, featuring a narrow nose and a delta wing configuration. This streamlined design helps to distribute and weaken the shockwaves produced during supersonic flight, resulting in a quieter sonic profile.
Additionally, the X-59 is equipped with advanced onboard instrumentation and control systems to monitor and adjust its flight parameters in real time. These systems enable precise control over the aircraft's trajectory, allowing it to fly at supersonic speeds while minimizing sonic boom intensity.
Since its inception, the X-59 QueSST project has undergone rigorous testing and development phases to validate its capabilities. NASA has conducted extensive wind tunnel tests and computer simulations to refine the aircraft's design and ensure its aerodynamic efficiency. In 2021, the X-59 completed its Critical Design Review, marking a significant milestone in the project's progress.
The X-59 Jet sonic boom sound controlling wasn’t the only problem during the making though, supersonic flights are banned over land. Bryan Lynn wrote an article based on reports by NASA, saying the data Quesst gathers could lead U.S. officials to change rules that currently ban supersonic flights over land. NASA says the X-59 was developed to reduce the loudness of the sonic boom it produces when breaking the sound barrier to very low levels heard on the ground.” Once X-59 is cleared to fly, the jet will go over several cities across the U.S. to collect data on how people on the ground react to the noise. As of January 2024, it will finally be tested by NASA 2024, expected to cruise at Mach 1.42. 1 Mach is about 764.269 miles per hour. The most mach by a jet was approximately 9.6, done by the NASA X-43.
NASA explains their reasoning for creating the X-59, “...it’s NASA's mission to demonstrate how the X-59 can fly supersonic without generating loud sonic booms and then survey what people hear when it flies overhead. Reaction to the quieter sonic "thumps" will be shared with regulators who will then consider writing new sound-based rules to lift the ban on faster-than-sound flight over land.”
Due to this configuration, the cockpit is located almost halfway down the length of the aircraft – and does not have a forward-facing window. Instead, the Quesst team developed the External Vision System, a series of high-resolution cameras feeding a 4K monitor in the cockpit. The XVS is a forward-facing multi-camera and display system that shows the airspace in front of the X-59 QueSST. A 4K-monitor serves as the central “window” allowing the pilot to safely see traffic in their flight path. While also providing graphical flight data in an augmented reality for approaches and landings.
Recently, NASA has revealed the rollout of a new jet, one that boasts incredible speeds. The X-59 Jet can go 925 mph, 1.4 times the speed of sound. Supersonic flight, defined as traveling faster than the speed of sound (at approximately 768 miles per hour or 1,236 kilometers per hour at sea level), offers the promise of significantly reduced travel times.
However, it comes with a significant drawback: sonic booms. These are shockwaves that occur when an aircraft exceeds the speed of sound. Generating a loud noise similar to thunder. Sonic booms have limited the use of supersonic aircraft over populated areas due to concerns about noise pollution and potential damage to structures.
Roselyn Min, a multimedia journalist based in Denmark and Sweden, shares speed on euronews. “Supersonic flights are flights that can travel at speeds faster than the speed of sound, and the X-59 is designed to fly at 1.4 times the speed of sound or around 1,480 km/h.” Min also shares that, “NASA and US defense company Lockheed Martin have unveiled their "quiet" supersonic aircraft after six years of development.”
As of December 2023 and early January 2024, the X-59's first flight is planned for 2024.
But, there was a problem. The amazing speed of the jet makes that sonic boom noise, and NASA had to fix it before moving any further on this project. On the NASA website, it says, “For 50 years, the U.S. and other nations have prohibited such flights because of the disturbance caused by loud, startling sonic booms on the communities below.” So to solve this problem, they have used shaping technologies that will allow the aircraft to achieve great speeds while keeping the volume down.
“The aircraft is set to take off for the first time later this year, followed by its first quiet supersonic flight. The Quesst team will conduct several of the aircraft’s flight tests at Skunk Works before transferring it to NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, which will serve as its base of operations,” reads the NASA website.
To address the sonic boom dilemma, NASA embarked on the X-59 QueSST project. The X-59, developed in collaboration with Lockheed Martin, is designed to achieve supersonic speeds while producing a softer, more tolerable sonic thump known as a "heartbeat" or "gentle thump." By shaping the aircraft's design to minimize the intensity of sonic booms, the X-59 aims to enable supersonic flights over land without causing disturbance to people and structures below.
From the design of the aircraft, NASA had to make more changes because of the arrangements, and some of these changes are listed on the NASA website.
“At 99.7 feet long and 29.5 feet wide, the aircraft’s shape and the technological advancements it houses will make quiet supersonic flight possible. The X-59’s thin, tapered nose accounts for almost a third of its length and will break up the shock waves that would ordinarily result in a supersonic aircraft causing a sonic boom,” writes Abbey A. Donaldson on the NASA website.
Additionally, the Low-Boom X-plane boasts a29.5 ft (9.0 m) wingspan for a maximum takeoff weight of 32,300 lb (14,700 kg).
The design idea came from Lockheed Martin, headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland. Lockheed Martin Corporation is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 116,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.
The X-59 QueSST incorporates several innovative technologies and design features to achieve its noise-reducing capabilities. One crucial aspect is the aircraft's long, slender shape, featuring a narrow nose and a delta wing configuration. This streamlined design helps to distribute and weaken the shockwaves produced during supersonic flight, resulting in a quieter sonic profile.
Additionally, the X-59 is equipped with advanced onboard instrumentation and control systems to monitor and adjust its flight parameters in real time. These systems enable precise control over the aircraft's trajectory, allowing it to fly at supersonic speeds while minimizing sonic boom intensity.
Since its inception, the X-59 QueSST project has undergone rigorous testing and development phases to validate its capabilities. NASA has conducted extensive wind tunnel tests and computer simulations to refine the aircraft's design and ensure its aerodynamic efficiency. In 2021, the X-59 completed its Critical Design Review, marking a significant milestone in the project's progress.
The X-59 Jet sonic boom sound controlling wasn’t the only problem during the making though, supersonic flights are banned over land. Bryan Lynn wrote an article based on reports by NASA, saying the data Quesst gathers could lead U.S. officials to change rules that currently ban supersonic flights over land. NASA says the X-59 was developed to reduce the loudness of the sonic boom it produces when breaking the sound barrier to very low levels heard on the ground.” Once X-59 is cleared to fly, the jet will go over several cities across the U.S. to collect data on how people on the ground react to the noise. As of January 2024, it will finally be tested by NASA 2024, expected to cruise at Mach 1.42. 1 Mach is about 764.269 miles per hour. The most mach by a jet was approximately 9.6, done by the NASA X-43.
NASA explains their reasoning for creating the X-59, “...it’s NASA's mission to demonstrate how the X-59 can fly supersonic without generating loud sonic booms and then survey what people hear when it flies overhead. Reaction to the quieter sonic "thumps" will be shared with regulators who will then consider writing new sound-based rules to lift the ban on faster-than-sound flight over land.”
Due to this configuration, the cockpit is located almost halfway down the length of the aircraft – and does not have a forward-facing window. Instead, the Quesst team developed the External Vision System, a series of high-resolution cameras feeding a 4K monitor in the cockpit. The XVS is a forward-facing multi-camera and display system that shows the airspace in front of the X-59 QueSST. A 4K-monitor serves as the central “window” allowing the pilot to safely see traffic in their flight path. While also providing graphical flight data in an augmented reality for approaches and landings.