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WATCH: NASA’s Supersonic X-59 Pushes the Envelope

Researchers are validating the aircraft’s performance before propelling it to supersonic speeds.

Tuesday, May 05, 2026 at 03:43 PM ET

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The X-59 conducts a bank-to-bank autoroll maneuver during a recent test flight in California. [Credit: NASA/Lori Losey]

Key Takeaways:

NASA and Lockheed Martin's experimental X-59 aircraft is currently undergoing envelope expansion testing, performing various maneuvers to validate its performance before achieving supersonic speeds.
The X-59's core mission is to demonstrate its ability to produce a "sonic thump" rather than a loud sonic boom, aiming to overcome noise concerns that led to the ban on commercial supersonic flight over land.
Future plans involve pushing the aircraft to Mach 1.4 at 55,000 feet, followed by community surveys to gauge public acceptance of its reduced noise, with the ultimate goal of providing data to regulators for reconsidering the overland supersonic flight ban.

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NASA and Lockheed Martin’s experimental supersonic X-59 is demonstrating that envelope expansion testing is about more than flying faster and higher.

Ultimately, the goal is to bring the aircraft to a speed of Mach 1.4 and altitude of 55,000 feet, under which conditions it is expected to produce a “sonic thump,” or quiet sonic boom. A planned community survey of the X-59’s noise levels could give regulators and lawmakers the evidence they need to chart a return to commercial supersonic flight.

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.