/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer_public/e6/9d/e69d51de-9425-4a3f-9022-36b0fe8074ed/x59-first-supersonic-ata-01.webp)
publications
In a First, NASA's Experimental X-59 Plane Flew Faster Than the Speed of Sound, Setting the Stage for 'Quiet' Supersonic Aircraft
Key takeaways
- The aircraft zoomed through the sky at a top speed of about 713 miles per hour, or Mach 1.1, and an altitude of 43,400 feet, traveling faster than the speed of sound.
- The record-breaking flight lasted 81 minutes and took place at Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California.
- As an aircraft travels, it shoves air molecules aside and causes acoustic waves to spread in all directions from the plane.
The aircraft zoomed through the sky at a top speed of about 713 miles per hour, or Mach 1.1, and an altitude of 43,400 feet, traveling faster than the speed of sound.
The record-breaking flight lasted 81 minutes and took place at Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California. Reaching this milestone brings NASA one step closer to achieving “quiet” supersonic flight.
“The X-59’s first supersonic flight is a testament to America’s enduring leadership in science, engineering and aerospace innovation,” says Michael Kratsios, assistant to the president for science and technology and director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, in a statement.
Article preview — originally published by Smithsonian. Full story at the source.
Read full story on Smithsonian →
More top stories
Also covered by
Aggregated and edited by the Scoop newsroom. We surface news from Smithsonian alongside other reporting so you can compare coverage in one place.
Editorial policy · Corrections · About Scoop