First Test Passed: On October 28, 2025, NASA’s X-59 successfully completed its inaugural (subsonic) flight in Palmdale, California.
The “Thump” Goal: The QueSST mission aims to replace the loud “sonic boom” with a barely perceptible “thump” of around 75 EPNdB.
Commercial Future: Data collected from future community overflights will be used to convince regulators (FAA, ICAO) to lift the overland supersonic ban.
On October 28, 2025, NASA’s X-59 experimental aircraft successfully completed its first test flight, taking off from Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California. This event marks a critical milestone in the QueSST (Quiet Super-Sonic Technology) program, which aims to overcome one of the primary hurdles to the return of supersonic passenger travel: noise pollution.
The QueSST Mission and the Sonic Boom Problem
Ever since the Concorde era, commercial supersonic flights have been banned over land. The reason is the “sonic boom”—the explosive sound generated when an object breaks the sound barrier (Mach 1). This noise, caused by the sudden buildup and release of shockwaves, is considered too disruptive for populated areas.
The NASA X-59 QueSST mission is not intended to create a new passenger airliner, but rather a technological demonstrator. The X-59 is specifically engineered to prove that supersonic flight is possible without generating a loud boom. The goal is to transform the “boom” into a “thump,” with a target perceived noise level of around 75 EPNdB (Effective Perceived Noise Level), comparable to a distant car door closing.
The First Flight: A Crucial Test for a Supersonic Future
The inaugural flight on October 28, while kept at subsonic speeds, was a vital test. Piloted, James L.Less,by a test pilot, the aircraft, built by Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works division, landed at the NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center. The primary objective was to verify the plane’s structural integrity, test its onboard systems, and validate flight procedures before moving on to high-speed phases.
The X-59’s Unique Design
The core of the QueSST technology lies in the X-59’s aerodynamic design. The aircraft features an extremely long, thin nose and a wing configuration tailored to disperse shockwaves. Instead of converging to create a single, loud “boom”, the X-59’s shape causes the shockwaves to separate and weaken before they reach the ground, producing only the desired quiet “thump.”
Next Steps: From Community Tests to Changing the Rules
With the first flight complete, NASA will proceed with tests at increasing speeds, aiming to exceed Mach 1.4 (circa 1.700 km/h). The mission’s most crucial phase will involve flying the X-59 over several selected communities across the United States.
NASA will gather direct data on the public’s perception of the noise generated. This data is not just academic; it forms the basis of a formal proposal the space agency will present to regulatory bodies, such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the US and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
NASA X-59 QueSST: primo volo del jet supersonico silenzioso
The Ultimate Goal: The Return of Commercial Supersonic Flights
If the QueSST mission successfully demonstrates that commercial supersonic flights can be “quiet,” the data collected could lead to a revision of current regulations. This would open the market for a new generation of passenger aircraft capable of cutting intercontinental travel times in half, once again revolutionizing global air transport.
production by INTNEWS
