In launch event on Friday, agency shared plans to test over US cities to see if it’s quiet enough by engaging ‘the people below’

In launch event on Friday, agency shared plans to test over US cities to see if it’s quiet enough by engaging ‘the people below’

Nasa has unveiled a one-of-a-kind quiet supersonic aircraft as part of the US space agency’s mission to make commercial supersonic flight possible.

In a joint ceremony with Lockheed Martin Skunk Works in Palmdale, California, on Friday, Nasa revealed the X-59, an experimental aircraft that is expected to fly at 1.4 times the speed of sound – or 925mph (1,488 km/h).

The aircraft, which stands at 99.7ft (30.4 metres) long and 29.5ft wide, has a thin, tapered nose that comprises nearly a third of the aircraft’s full length – a feature designed to disperse shock waves that would typically surround supersonic aircraft and result in sonic booms.

  • awwwyissss@lemm.ee
    52·
    10 months ago

    We’re in the middle of the 5th mass extinction, it’s caused by humans. Climate change is just now starting to actually take effect, and we’re locked into many decades of increased disasters and loss of habitable land as the population careens into absolutely record numbers. I could keep going.

    • Aux@lemmy.world
      27·
      10 months ago

      The planet is fine though. It’s not the first extinsion, it’s not the last. All previous ones were caused by some type of living creature as well.

      • Swedneck@discuss.tchncs.de
        41·
        10 months ago

        the planet is fine, sure, but do you want to live on the surface of venus? i would personally find that somewhat lethal and prefer being able to breathe the air without immediately dying from carbon monoxide poisoning

        • Aux@lemmy.world
          24·
          10 months ago

          So that’s what you should talk about - you don’t care about the planet, you care about yourself. I don’t care how would you feel on the surface of the Venus, I want my fast planes!