Regulations and Government
NASA Spools Up Low-boom Supersonic Research
The X-59, which will be built by Lockheed Martin, could pave the way for supersonic flight over land in the U.S.
Low-speed wind tunnel testing of the X-59 low-boom supersonic demonstrator has started at NASA Langley. NASA plans to fly the X-59 in 2023 over "select communities" in 2023 to measure residents’ reactions to any noise they might hear, potentially paving the way for supersonic flight over land in the U.S. (Photo: NASA/David C. Bowman)
Low-speed wind tunnel testing of the X-59 low-boom supersonic demonstrator has started at NASA Langley. NASA plans to fly the X-59 in 2023 over "select communities" in 2023 to measure residents’ reactions to any noise they might hear, potentially paving the way for supersonic flight over land in the U.S. (Photo: NASA/David C. Bowman)

NASA has started low-speed wind tunnel testing of a subscale model of its X-59 low-boom supersonic demonstrator. The X-59, which will be built by Lockheed Martin, could pave the way for supersonic flight over land in the U.S., if the agency can prove that the X-59’s “sonic thump” isn’t a noise nuisance to people on the ground.