NASA’s X-59’s Diamonds are Forever Powerful

A closer view of the powerful afterburner exhaust coming from the tail of NASA’s X-59 supersonic technology demonstrator, it’s characteristic Mach diamonds – also known as shock diamonds – visible in the superhot plume. The aircraft’s single jet engine was tested at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works in Palmdale, California. The test demonstrated the engine’s ability to generate the thrust required for supersonic flight, advancing NASA’s Quesst mission.