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NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft sits inside its run stall following maximum afterburner testing at Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works...

NASA’s X-59 sits partially outside a white hangar at Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works Facility in Palmdale, California after sunset.

A closer view of the powerful afterburner exhaust coming from the tail of NASA’s X-59 supersonic technology demonstrator, it’s characteristic...

NASA’s X-59 emits bright flames with visible shock diamonds from its engine at sunset during maximum afterburner testing outside Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works Facility in Palmdale, California.

NASA’s X-59 lights up the night sky with its unique Mach diamonds, also known as shock diamonds, during maximum afterburner...

NASA’s X-59 sits partially in a white hangar and emits bright flames with visible shock diamonds from its engine at sunset during maximum afterburner testing outside Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works Facility in Palmdale, California.

NASA’s X-59 complements the glow of the sky at dusk with its unique Mach diamonds, also known as shock diamonds,...

NASA’s X-59 sits partially in a white hangar and emits bright flames with visible shock diamonds from its engine at sunset during maximum afterburner testing outside Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works Facility in Palmdale, California.

NASA’s X-59 fires up its jet engine against a darkening sky, showcasing its unique Mach diamonds, also known as shock...

NASA’s X-59 sits partially in a white hangar and emits bright flames with visible shock diamonds from its engine against a darkening sky during maximum afterburner testing outside Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works Facility in Palmdale, California.

NASA’s X-59 competes with sunset for best light show with its unique Mach diamonds, also known as shock diamonds, during...

NASA’s X-59 sits partially in a white hangar and emits bright flames with visible shock diamonds from its engine against an evening sky during maximum afterburner testing outside Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works Facility in Palmdale, California.

NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft sits inside its run stall in preparation for maximum afterburner testing at Lockheed Martin’s...

NASA’s X-59 sits partially outside a white hangar at Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works Facility in Palmdale, California, during sunset, as engineers prepare it for afterburner testing.

This “four-view” of the X-59 research aircraft provides specifications of the piloted vehicle that is being built by Lockheed Martin...

A specification diagram showing the measurements of the vehicle, configuration C612 and Control surfaces.

NASA's X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft is unveiled on January 12, 2024, at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works in Palmdale, California....

A large crowd stands before NASA's X-59 aircraft, many holding mobile devices over their heads.

NASA Administrator Robert Pearce speaks on stage just before the unveiling of the agency’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft at...

A man speaks at a podium. In the immediate background, the X-59 sits unseen behind a large curtain, moments away from its public unveiling.

John Clark, Lockheed Martin Skunk Works Vice President and General Manager, speaks on stage just before the unveiling of NASA’s...

A man speaks at a podium. In the immediate background, the X-59 sits unseen behind a large curtain, moments away from its public unveiling.

Bathed in dramatic lighting, NASA's X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft is seen fully assembled and painted at Lockheed Martin's Skunk...

NASA's X-59 airplane sits in its hangar with lights shining on it.

NASA's X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft is seen fully assembled and painted on the ramp at Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works...

NASA's X-59 sits parked outside its hangar.

NASA's X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft is dramatically lit for a "glamour shot," captured before its Jan. 12, 2024, rollout...

NASA's X-59 airplane sits in its hangar with lights shining on it.

NASA's X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft is dramatically lit for a "glamour shot," captured before its Jan. 12, 2024, rollout...

NASA's X-59 airplane sits on the ground with lights shining on it.

With the sun about to rise over the California high desert, NASA's X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft is seen fully...

NASA's X-59 airplane is seen parked with the open desert behind it and a row of city lights on part of the horizon.

With the sun setting over the California high desert, NASA's X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft is seen fully assembled and...

The X-59 aircraft is seen parked outside its hangar.

Greg Ulmer, Lockheed Martin Executive Vice President of Aeronautics, speaks on stage moments before the unveiling NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic...

A man speaks at a podium. In the immediate background, the X-59 sits unseen behind a large curtain, moments away from its public unveiling.

A close-up front view showcases the long, slightly flattened nose of the X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft, seen here bathed...

A front view of the X-59 airplane showcases its long, slender, and slightly flattened nose.

Dee Dee Myers, California Senior Economic Advisor to the Governor, speaks on stage immediately following the unveiling of NASA’s X-59...

A woman speaks at a podium. In the immediate background, the X-59 sits, newly painted in its red, white, blue and gold livery.

NASA Associate Administrator Jim Free speaks on stage immediately following the unveiling of the agency’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft...

A man speaks at a podium. In the immediate background, the X-59 sits, newly painted in its red, white, blue and gold livery.

The general shape of NASA’s X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology airplane, including parts of its wing, can be seen in this...

A silver aluminum framework in a roughly triangular shape sits on a clean aircraft factory floor holding green and yellow metal spars that are the first pieces of the wing of NASA's X-59 experimental aircraft.

NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft sits on the ramp at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works in Palmdale, California during sunrise,...

In this photo, NASA’s X-59 aircraft is shown at sunrise with its new paint scheme. The aircraft is mostly white with a blue underside and red accents on its swept back wings.

NASA test pilots Nils Larson (left) and Jim “Clue” Less (right), and Lockheed Martin test pilot Dan “Dog” Canin pose...

In this photo, NASA research pilot Nils Larsen, Lockheed Martin test pilot Dan “Dog” Canin, and NASA research pilot Jim Less stand in front of the X-59.

NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft sits on the ramp at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works in Palmdale, California during sunrise,...

In this photo, NASA’s X-59 aircraft is shown at sunrise at the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works in Palmdale, California. Open desert can be seen behind the aircraft. The X-59’s design features a long nose, approximately one-third of the aircraft’s nearly 100-foot length, swept-back wings, and an engine mounted on top and toward the rear of the fuselage.

Artist’s concept of the X-59 quiet supersonic aircraft. NASA and Lockheed Martin Skunkworks will unveil the aircraft on Friday, Jan....

Artist’s concept of the X-59

Former flight test instructor and current NASA test pilot Nils Larson reunited with former student and current astronaut Victor Glover...

Nils Larson, X59 pilot and Astronaut Victor Glover walking side-by-side.

This “four-view” of the X-59 research aircraft provides specifications of the piloted vehicle that is being built by Lockheed Martin...

A specification diagram showing the measurements of the vehicle, configuration C612 and Control surfaces.

Before the X-59 flies, NASA researchers are getting ahead of the curve by using computational fluid dynamics to create what...

Parallel lines extending outward from the aircraft depict acoustic shockwaves the X-59 is predicted to create during supersonic flight that will result in a quieter sonic “thump”.

NASA’s X-59 sits in support framing while undergoing the installation of its lower empennage, or tail section, at Lockheed Martin...

Back view of the X-59 tail with a red cover over the engine nozzle. The red plug or covering protects the engine by creating a barrier so that foreign objects cannot enter the engine or engine inlet.

NASA’s X-59 has undergone final installation of its lower empennage, better known as the tail assembly. NASA’s X-59 has undergone...

Back-side view of the X-59 tail with a red cover over the engine nozzle. The red plug or covering protects the engine by creating a barrier so that foreign objects cannot enter the engine or engine inlet.

Ernest Williams has played a key role in the X-59 Quesst mission as an electrical engineer at NASA’s Glenn Research...

Man in shirt and tie looks at camera while standing inside a laboratory vacuum chamber.

The supersonic X-1E research aircraft was the last of NASA's experimental X-1 series of aircraft. From 1955-1958, it made 26...

The X-1E aircraft dominates the foreground of this photo. It is white, with its designation written on its side in big orange letters. The Moon is in the background, lined up with the nose of the airplane.

Before NASA’s quiet supersonic X-59 aircraft takes to the skies, plenty of testing happens to ensure a safe first flight....

A technician works on the X-59 model during testing in the low-speed wind tunnel.

A model of the X-59 aircraft, the centerpiece of NASA’s mission to gather information intended to help enable a new...

X59 JAXA Quesst Japan Wind Tunnel

Don Durston never grew out of building model planes – they’re just a whole lot more sophisticated these days! The...

A man in a red shirt leans forward to look closely at a metal airplane model installed in a wind tunnel.

This colorized schlieren image is of a small-scale model of NASA’s X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology (QueSST) airplane taken inside NASA...

A colorized schlieren image (red and black) of a small-scale model of NASA’s X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology (QueSST) airplane taken inside the 8- by- 6-foot Supersonic Wind Tunnel during a recent boom test.

NASA’s X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology aircraft (QueSST) is pictured here at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works in California, wrapped up in...

X-59 wrapped with a red bow to prepare for it's move to Texas.

The NASA and Lockheed Martin team behind the X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology (QueSST) have recently removed the aircraft from its...

The X-59 is free from its structural support jig for the first time.

The X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology (QueSST) aircraft is taking shape at the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works facility in Palmdale, California....

The X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology (QueSST) aircraft's nose is being attached to the front of the aircraft.