NASA’s X-59 Supersonic Aircraft Effectively Shatters Sound Barrier in First Test Flight

NASA's X-59 Supersonic Aircraft Effectively Shatters Sound Barrier in First Test Flight
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NASA’s X-59 Supersonic Aircraft Effectively Shatters Sound Barrier in First Test Flight


X-59 has been engineered to quietly surpass the sound barrier and enhance supersonic travel for commercial applications in the future.

In 2018, NASA authorized Lockheed Martin to commence development on the X-59, with initial testing initially scheduled for 2021. The inaugural test flight took place in October 2025 and was recognized as a comprehensive success. The aim is to make commercial supersonic aviation feasible. In 1973, supersonic travel was prohibited due to the disruptive boom associated with breaking the sound barrier — authorities feared it might lead to property damage and excessive noise. However, in 2025, President Trump lifted this prohibition through an executive order. According to NASA, the X-59 is expected to generate merely a sonic “thump” as it flies overhead.

What lies ahead for the X-59 Quesst?

NASA and Lockheed Martin's Quesst supersonic jet from below.

Nick Ut/Getty Images

In line with the Quesst initiative, NASA will operate the X-59 over various U.S. communities, collecting data on public reactions below. NASA has previously conducted tests of “quiet” sonic booms in Texas using an F/A-18 aircraft. Additionally, NASA and Lockheed Martin

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