NASA has taken another step in the development of the X-59 experimental supersonic aircraft, designed to fly faster than the speed of sound without loud sonic booms, typical for supersonic aviation. In July 2025 year at the Plant facility 42 US Air Force in Palmdale, California, The first land tests occurred - so -called steering tests, during which the plane was moving along the runway at low speeds. These tests tested the operation of the steering and braking systems.
X-59, developed by Lockheed Martin in the legendary Skunk Works division, has a unique elongated design in length 30 meters without a front porthole. Instead, pilots use an external vision system (XVS) – cameras with augmented reality, that provide a view ahead. Plant 42, where the tests were conducted, is the historical center of the creation of advanced aircraft, таких як F-22 Raptor, B-2 Spirit, безпілотник RQ-170 Sentinel, as well as NASA's space shuttles and the SOFIA flying observatory.
The next stage will be high-speed steering tests, during which the X-59 will accelerate to speed, close to the takeoff. These tests are part of the preparation for the flight campaign, which will include flights over populated areas of the United States to assess the perception of "quiet" sonic booms, that resemble a soft knock instead of a loud explosion.
For 2025 X-59 passed a number of other tests: in May, computer systems were tested with simulation of flight conditions and possible failures, in June, the ability of the engine to maintain a stable speed was tested, and afterburner tests were conducted at the beginning of the year, during which additional fuel was injected into the hot exhaust gases to increase thrust. in addition, NASA in collaboration with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) tested a scale model of the X-59 in a supersonic wind tunnel, to measure the noise level under the aircraft.
The goal of the X-59 project is to develop technologies, which will allow the return of commercial supersonic flights over the continental United States, banned since the 1970s due to the loudness of the sonic booms. Successfully reducing their intensity can reduce flight times for civil aviation, emergency medical care and disaster response. The first flight tests are planned for the coming months, if the tests are successful.
Source: https://www.space.com