NASA and the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) collaborated to test a scale model of the X-59 experimental aircraft in a supersonic wind tunnel in Chofu, Japan. The purpose of the test was to evaluate the noise generated by the aircraft during flight. The image released on July 11, 2025, shows the model inside the wind tunnel.
The X-59 aircraft, developed by NASA, is designed to travel faster than the speed of sound without creating a loud sonic boom. Understanding the noise underneath the aircraft, caused by its pressure signature, is crucial for ensuring minimal noise impact on the ground. This recent wind tunnel test in Japan was the third round of evaluations for the X-59 model, providing valuable data on the noise levels produced by the shock waves at supersonic speeds.
Image credit: JAXA
Original Source: NASA