🚀 NASA's "Quiet" X-59 Supersonic Jet Takes Major Step Towards First Flight 🌌

NASA’s innovative X-59 supersonic jet has reached an exciting milestone with its first engine test at Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works facility in California. Part of NASA's Quiet SuperSonic Technology (Quesst) program, the X-59 aims to break the sound barrier without the disruptive "boom" — instead creating a softer "thump." Engineers began with low-speed engine checks to ensure seamless operation across the jet’s systems before powering up the engine with fuel, which performed as expected. The X-59, featuring a 38-foot nose and no forward window, uses an augmented reality display to provide the pilot's forward view. Next, the jet will go through further system tests, including on-ground taxi trials. While a flight date has not yet been set, NASA plans to fly the X-59 over select U.S. cities to gauge public response to its quieter sonic footprint.