Low Boom Flight Demonstrator

Quesst (X-59)

NASA X-59’s Latest Testing Milestone: Simulating Flight from the Ground

NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft successfully completed a critical series of tests in which the airplane was put through its paces for cruising high above the California desert – all without ever leaving the ground. “The idea behind these tests is to command the airplane’s subsystems and flight computer to function as if it […]

Posted May 16, 2025

Aeronautics

Quesst (X-59)

NASA Calibrates Second Shock-Sensing Probe for X-59 Testing

When you’re testing a cutting-edge NASA aircraft, you need specialized tools to conduct tests and capture data –but if those tools need maintenance, you need to wait until they’re fixed. Unless you have a backup. That’s why NASA recently calibrated a new shock-sensing probe to capture shock wave data when the agency’s X-59 quiet supersonic […]

Posted April 18, 2025

Aeronautics

Quesst (X-59)

NASA’s X-59 Completes ‘Cruise Control’ Engine Speed Hold Test

The team behind NASA’s X-59 completed another critical ground test in March, ensuring the quiet supersonic aircraft will be able to maintain a specific speed during operation. The test, known as engine speed hold, is the latest marker of progress as the X-59 nears first flight this year. “Engine speed hold is essentially the aircraft’s […]

Posted March 26, 2025

Aeronautics

Quesst (X-59)

NASA’s X-59 Completes Electromagnetic Testing

NASA’s quiet supersonic X-59 research aircraft has cleared electromagnetic testing, confirming its systems will work together safely, without interference across a range of scenarios. “Reaching this phase shows that the aircraft integration is advancing,” said Yohan Lin, NASA’s X-59 avionics lead.

Posted February 26, 2025

Aeronautics

Quesst (X-59)

NASA Runs X-59 Engine with Maximum Afterburner for First Time

NASA completed the first maximum afterburner engine run test on its X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft on Dec. 12. The ground test, conducted at Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works facility in Palmdale, California, marks a significant milestone as the X-59 team progresses toward flight.

Posted December 20, 2024

Advanced Air Vehicles Program

Aeronautics

Quesst (X-59)

NASA to Test Technology for X-59’s Unique Shock Wave Measurements

NASA will soon test advancements made on a key tool for measuring the unique “sonic thumps” that its quiet supersonic X-59 research aircraft will make while flying. A shock-sensing probe is a cone-shaped air data probe developed with specific features to capture the unique shock waves the X-59 will produce.

Posted December 6, 2024

Aeronautics

Quesst (X-59)

X-59 Fires Up its Engine for First Time on its Way to Takeoff

Lee esta historia en español aquí. NASA’s Quesst mission marked a major milestone with the start of tests on the engine that will power the quiet supersonic X-59 experimental aircraft. These engine-run tests, which began Oct. 30, allow the X-59 team to verify the aircraft’s systems are working together while powered by its own engine. […]

Posted November 6, 2024

Aeronautics

Quesst (X-59)

NASA’s X-59 Progresses Through Tests on the Path to Flight

The team preparing NASA’s X-59 continues through testing in preparation for the quiet supersonic aircraft to make its first flight. This includes a trio of important structural tests and critical inspections on the path to flight. The X-59 is an experimental plane that will fly faster than the speed of sound without a loud sonic […]

Posted August 13, 2024

Aeronautics

Quesst (X-59)

Quesst: The Flights