NASA successfully tested its new supersonic aircraft, the X-59. Here’s what we know so far (with photos).

NASA has conducted tests on the afterburner of the new supersonic aircraft X-59, carried out at one of Lockheed Martin's facilities in California. Lockheed Martin developed the X-59 for NASA as part of a project to create a "quiet" supersonic aircraft that can break the sound barrier without producing loud sonic booms typically associated with supersonic speeds, reports Space.

Regarding the afterburner testing of the X-59 supersonic aircraft, engineers evaluated the performance of the General Electric F414-GE-100 jet engine. This is a modified version of the engine used in Boeing's F/A-18 Super Hornet aircraft, which are utilized by the U.S. Navy.

According to NASA's announcement, the operation of the F414-GE-100 engine with the afterburner will enable the X-59 aircraft to achieve supersonic speeds. The tests demonstrated that the engine can operate within temperature limits and with adequate airflow for flight. The testing also indicated that the engine works well in conjunction with other subsystems of the X-59 supersonic aircraft.

Once NASA completes the ground tests and verifies the X-59's readiness for flight, summer flight tests will commence. During these tests, several F-15 aircraft will accompany the X-59 in the air, equipped with special instruments to measure the strength of the shock waves generated when the X-59 breaks the sound barrier, meaning it exceeds the speed of sound. These shock waves typically resemble thunder, but the goal of the X-59 is to demonstrate that supersonic aircraft can produce quiet shock waves.

After the first phase of flight tests is completed, NASA will send the X-59 supersonic aircraft over populated areas in the U.S. to gather data on public reactions to its flight and to determine how quiet the shock waves perceived by humans are during supersonic flight.

The supersonic aircraft X-59 was created under NASA’s Quesst program, which aims to develop aircraft capable of crossing the sound barrier without generating loud sonic booms. The X-59 measures 29 meters in length and has a wingspan of 9 meters. This supersonic aircraft will be able to fly at speeds of up to 1500 km/h.

For several decades, supersonic flights have been prohibited over populated areas within the U.S. due to the intense sonic booms. If NASA succeeds in implementing the "quiet" supersonic aircraft technology, future passenger supersonic planes could operate over populated areas within the country, significantly reducing travel time for passengers by air.