Alex McCurthy
In a bid to redefine the future of air travel, NASA is delving into the realm of supersonic technology with a groundbreaking project that aims to drastically reduce the flight time between New York and London to a mere 1.5 hours. This ambitious endeavor falls under NASA’s Commercial Supersonic Technology Project, signaling a new era of rapid and efficient global transportation.
In contrast to the current passenger planes cruising at an average speed of 600 mph, NASA is setting its sights on revolutionizing commercial aviation with a supersonic jet capable of traversing the skies at speeds ranging from Mach 2 to Mach 4, equivalent to an astounding 1,535 to 3,045 mph.
However, the journey to achieve this supersonic feat is not without its challenges. Present flight regulations across the United States and various nations prohibit supersonic jets from flying over land due to concerns over sonic booms causing noise pollution. Determined to overcome this hurdle, NASA has outlined two pivotal objectives to pave the way for supersonic flights over land.
At the heart of these efforts is the Quesst mission, an initiative through which NASA is crafting the X-59 quiet supersonic aircraft. Distinguished by its innovative technology designed to mitigate the deafening roar of a sonic boom into a gentle, ground-level thump, the X-59 is poised to reshape the sonic landscape of supersonic flight. NASA’s plan involves flying the X-59 over U.S. skies, meticulously analyzing the impact of its softened sonic boom on the populace. The objective is clear: to amass empirical data that will substantiate the case for revising the regulations barring overland supersonic flights.
Drawing inspiration from the advancements achieved through the X-59 program, the commercial supersonic jet will emerge as the culmination of NASA’s groundbreaking work. Lori Ozoroski, the esteemed project manager for NASA’s Commercial Supersonic Technology Project, remarked, “A decade ago, we embarked on similar concept studies at Mach 1.6-1.8, and the insights gleaned from those studies have guided NASA’s research trajectory ever since, including the pivotal strides toward the X-59.”
As the project accelerates, NASA is poised to award two 12-month contracts to select companies, tasking them with crafting comprehensive concept designs and technology roadmaps. These roadmaps will not only chart the uncharted territory of high-speed air travel but will also delineate potential risks, challenges, and essential technologies necessary to translate the vision of Mach 2-plus travel into an operational reality. Among the distinguished companies entrusted with these pivotal contracts are aerospace giants like Boeing and GE Aerospace, along with pioneering entities such as Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Blue Ridge Research and Consulting, and Boom Supersonic.
In essence, NASA’s Commercial Supersonic Technology Project signifies a monumental leap forward in the realm of aviation. By harnessing cutting-edge innovations, rigorous research, and strategic partnerships, NASA is rewriting the narrative of air travel, offering a tantalizing glimpse into a future where crossing the Atlantic in less than two hours becomes not just a possibility, but a remarkable reality.
