In this time-lapse, youll see NASAs X-59 go through final installation of its lower empennage, better referred to as the tail assembly. This time-lapse was taken at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works in Palmdale, California. The setup permits the team to continue final wiring and system checkouts on the aircraft as it prepares for incorporated ground screening, which will include engine runs and taxi tests. The X-59 airplane is created to demonstrate the ability to fly supersonic while reducing the loud sonic boom to a quiet sonic thump and is the focal point of NASAs Quesst objective. Credit: NASA
The Quesst objective has two goals: 1) design and construct NASAs X-59 research airplane with technology that decreases the volume of a sonic boom to a mild thump to individuals on the ground; and 2) fly the X-59 over a number of U.S. neighborhoods to collect data on human responses to the sound produced during supersonic flight and deliver that data set to U.S. and global regulators.
X-59, NASAs very first purpose-built, supersonic X-plane in decades will quickly take to the skies. NASA will use the experimental X-59 to supply data that could alter the rules that prohibit supersonic flight over land by showing a sonic boom can be lowered to a barely-audible sonic thump heard on the ground.
NASAs X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology airplane, or QueSST, is designed to fly faster than the speed of sound without producing a loud, disruptive sonic boom, which is normally heard on the ground below airplane flying at such speeds. The X-59 will fly over communities around the United States to show this innovation, but first, NASA will need to confirm the X-planes acoustic signature, utilizing a ground recording system.
NASAs X-59 has gone through final installation of its lower empennage, much better understood as the tail assembly. This series of images was taken at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works in Palmdale, California.
This installation enables the group to continue last electrical wiring and system checkouts on the airplane as it gets ready for incorporated ground testing, which will include engine runs and taxi tests.
NASAs X-59 beings in support framing while undergoing the setup of its lower empennage, or tail area, at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works in Palmdale, California, in this image from late March 2023. Credit: Lockheed Martin
A perfectly framed up rearview shot of NASAs X-59 tail after its recent installation of the lower empennage, or tail area, in late March at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works in Palmdale, California. Credit: Lockheed Martin
NASAs X-59 sits in assistance framing while undergoing the installation of its lower empennage, or tail area, at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works in Palmdale, California in late March. Credit: Lockheed Martin
When total, the X-59 aircraft– the focal point of NASAs Quesst objective– is designed to demonstrate the capability to fly supersonic while lowering the loud sonic boom to a quiet sonic thump. The Quesst objective will then fly the X-59 over several U.S. neighborhoods to collect information on human reactions to the sound created during supersonic flight and provide that information set to U.S. and worldwide regulators.
NASAs X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology aircraft, or QueSST, is designed to fly faster than the speed of noise without producing a loud, disruptive sonic boom, which is usually heard on the ground below airplane flying at such speeds. The X-59 will fly over neighborhoods around the United States to show this technology, but initially, NASA will need to confirm the X-planes acoustic signature, utilizing a ground recording system. The X-59 aircraft is designed to demonstrate the ability to fly supersonic while decreasing the loud sonic boom to a peaceful sonic thump and is the centerpiece of NASAs Quesst mission. NASA will use the speculative X-59 to provide data that could change the rules that ban supersonic flight over land by showing a sonic boom can be minimized to a barely-audible sonic thump heard on the ground.