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X-59 Low-Boom Aircraft Enters New Phase of Supersonic Flight Testing

NASA’s Lockheed Martin‑built X‑59 Quiet Supersonic Transport has entered the envelope‑expansion phase of its flight test program. The aircraft will now conduct a series of supersonic runs to map its performance envelope and verify the low‑boom signature. NASA aims to demonstrate that a sonic boom can be reduced to a “soft thump,” meeting proposed regulatory limits for over‑land supersonic flight. Successful data will inform new FAA rules and pave the way for commercial quiet‑supersonic services.