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NASA is testing the X-59, an experimental aircraft designed to fly at Mach 1.4 without producing a traditional sonic boom. By shaping the fuselage and using a 38-foot nose to dissipate shockwaves, the plane produces only a "gentle sonic thump." This technology aims to overturn current laws that prohibit supersonic flight over land due to noise pollution.
X-59 Supersonic Jet, NASA, Lockheed Martin
NASA's X-59 experimental jet completed its first test flight, aiming to prove that supersonic travel can be achieved without a loud sonic boom. The aircraft is designed to produce a "gentle thump" instead of a disruptive boom, which could lead to the lifting of the ban on commercial supersonic flight over land.
