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The electric motors for X-57’s Mod II vehicle and their propellers were powered up and spun together for the first time.

X-57 principal investigator Sean Clarke flies the X-57 simulator.

An aluminum section behind a nose cone inside a blue-lit wind tunnel during testing.

X-57 Maxwell

The X-57 Maxwell all-electric aircraft project is part of NASA’s commitment to supporting the U.S. climate goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from the aviation sector by 2050. Since 2016, the project has shared lessons learned about battery technology, electromagnetic interference, motor controller design, and so much more.

Learn More About the X-57

project manager

Heather Maliska

Deputy Project Manager

Vince Schultz

Lead Engineer

Ethan Baumann

Principal investigator

Sean Clarke

Technical Papers

Contributions X- 57 has made to aviation researchers to date.

The X-57 aircraft inside a hangar with the hangar door open.

Latest News

NASA’s Modern History Makers: David Avanesian

NASA’s Modern History Makers: Susanah Kowalewski

NASA’s Modern History Makers: Peggy Cornell

NASA’s Modern History Makers: Jarred Wilhite

NASA’s X-57 Maxwell is Major Step Closer to Flight Readiness

NASA’s X-57 Maxwell all electric aircraft has power! With the successful installation of two 400-pound lithium-ion battery packs in the cabin of the plane. The X-57 project is the agency’s first all-experimental electric aircraft, and an early part of NASA’s work to develop sustainable aviation solutions. The X-57 project team repeatedly tested the batteries to ensure they can safely power the aircraft for an entire flight, and designed custom, lightweight cases to keep the batteries secure.

Learn More About the X-57 in Our X-Press Newsletter Archives

X-57 Contributions

Published June 2023

X-57 Maxwell, to flight recently underwent wind tunnel testing at Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia.

X-57 Future Wing, Cruise Motors Advance

Published July 2020

X-57 Arrives

Published October 2019

X-57 Wing Tests Complete

Published September 2019

NASA’s X-57 Maxwell's cruise motors began several rounds of testing.

Tests Begin on X-57 Motors

Published February 2018

Italian-built Tecnam P2006T in flight.

Tecnam Delivered – Aircraft That Will Become X-57 is Now in California

Published August 2016

Artist illustration showing NASA’s first all-electric X-plane, the X-57 Maxwell, in its final configuration.

New X-Plane – Distributed Electric Aircraft Named X-57

Published July 2016

X-57 Maxwell Electric Propulsion Aircraft

154 Images

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