NASA’s X-59 is quietly reaching significant milestones. The experimental supersonic aircraft, developed in partnership with Lockheed Martin, broke the sound barrier during two separate test flights in June. The tests mark a significant step in NASA’s quest for “quiet supersonic” flight, with the X-59 eventually expected to exceed the speed of sound with only a small thump, rather than the typical explosive boom. The X-59 went supersonic for the first time on June 5, reaching a top speed of approximately Mach 1.1 (713 mph) and an altitude of 43,400 feet on an 81-minute mission from Edwards Air Force Base in California. That flight showed the aircraft performed as expected at high speeds, NASA said. The next flight, carried out a week later on June 12, was even more critical, with the aircraft flying in the conditions it will also navigate in the future. The jet reached a top speed of Mach 1.4 (about 924 mph) and an altitude of 55,000 feet in..
