NASA’s supersonic X-59 aircraft completes its test flight

On its first test flight, NASA’s aircraft managed to land safely after about an hour in the air over the California desert.
This first test flight was conducted within the subsonic speed range. In upcoming tests, however, the X-59 is scheduled to fly at higher altitudes and greater speeds, eventually surpassing the speed of sound, which is about 1,225 kilometers per hour.
The aircraft features a special design aimed at reducing the sonic boom produced when breaking the sound barrier, transforming it from a powerful roar into a faint sound no louder than the noise of a car door closing.
This feature could help remove one of the main obstacles to commercial supersonic flights, as such flights remain heavily restricted over populated areas because of the high noise they cause.