Supersonic Flight

NASA is working with its partners to enable new choices for high-speed air travel, starting with commercial supersonic flight over land through the Quesst mission and the experimental X-59 airplane. Even faster flight some day through hypersonic technology is not impossible. Keep an eye on this page for updates about these topics.

Latest Supersonic News

More Supersonic News

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NASA Aims to Advance Hypersonic Flight Testing with New Awards

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Small Steps, Giant Leaps: Episode 166: Bringing Back Supersonic Flight

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NASA Chase Aircraft Ensures X-59’s Safety in Flight

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NASA Adds Two F-15 Aircraft to Support Supersonic Flight Research

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NASA’s Quesst Mission Marks X-59’s Historic First Flight

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NASA’s X-59 Completes First Flight, Prepares for More Flight Testing

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NASA’s X-59 Moves Toward First Flight at Speed of Safety

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NASA’s X-59 Nears First Flight

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Quesst Mission

NASA's Quesst mission is to lead a government-industry team to collect data that could make commercial supersonic flight over land possible, dramatically reducing air travel time in the United States or anywhere in the world. The centerpiece of the mission is the X-59 aircraft.

Follow the Quesst Mission Here about Quesst Mission

NASA’s X-59 flies above the Mojave Desert against a blue sky. Its long nose points slightly upward to the right, with the landing gear down. The aircraft is side-lit, with layered mountains visible in the background during its ferry to NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California.

Supersonic E-Books

Here are links to three e-books that are free to download. Each offer a different perspective on the history of supersonic research by NASA and its predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics.