The dream of making supersonic commercial flights in the future as common as taking a charter to the beach is today took a step closer to becoming a reality this Friday. NASA has officially presented its experimental X-59 aircraft, capable of breaking the sound barrier without causing almost any noise. This result eliminates one of the big problems related to the use of hypersonic speed in daily life.
The X-59, the result of collaboration between the American space agency and the aeronautical company Lockheed Martin, plans to make its first flight this year. An active future awaits us: as NASA revealed during the presentation ceremony, the device will spend years flying over some populated areas to collect data on silent supersonic flights, their effects and their reception in those communities.
Its goal is to pave the way for a new generation of commercial flights capable of traveling faster than the speed of sound and cutting the journey time in half: from New York to London, for example, in just three hours.
The X-59 aircraft in an artistic recreation.cr103.com (creativity103.com)
“In just a few years we have gone from an ambitious concept to reality. “NASA is in California.
The artifact looks like a futuristic and minimalist vision of the fusion between an airplane and an arrow. 30 meters long and 9 meters wide, a third of its fuselage is made up of the snout, long and thin like a stork’s beak. Something that allows him, as Melroy explained, to prevent the buildup of sound waves that cause the characteristic boom of supersonic aviation. Instead, the flight of this plane produces “a mere whisper”, he assured. Or, at most, the sound of a car door closing, according to the space agency’s engineers.
Each of the elements of its distinctive design is carefully thought out to minimize noise. From the relatively compact wings to the cockpit located in the center of the fuselage and without a front window. The pilot is guided by the images offered by the high definition and augmented reality cameras installed in the fuselage and displayed on a monitor, also high definition, inside the cabin. The single motor is positioned at the top of the vessel, to prevent sound waves from accumulating under the device and causing noise. The plane will be able to fly at 1.4 times the speed of sound, or 1,485 kilometers per hour.
NASA’s Quest Project, of which the X-59 is a part, seeks to collect data that will allow air regulators to lift a half-century ban on commercial supersonic flights over Earth. This veto in the United States and other countries is due to the inconvenience caused to populations by the loud noise resulting from crossing the sound barrier.
In test flights, which will last for years, NASA “will share the data and technology gained from this mission with regulatory agencies and industry,” said Bob Pearce, associate administrator for aeronautics research at NASA Headquarters, the space agency in Washington. To do this, he will fly over cities across the United States where community data will be collected to find out their perception of the device. “By demonstrating that quiet supersonic commercial flights are possible, we seek to open new commercial markets for American companies and benefit travelers around the world,” he added.
After the plane’s launch, NASA will now focus on preparations for the debut flight, including testing the engine and its integrated systems. After the first takeoff and landing, the next step will be to complete a supersonic flight.
But, despite taking a new step, the dream of commercial hypersonic flights still has a long way to go. According to NASA, to make these plans viable it is necessary to improve aspects such as fuel efficiency or emissions reduction. “It must be sustainable,” reminds the space agency.
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2024-01-12 23:42:10
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