NASA’s experimental X-59 jet
NASA’s pencil-thin X-59 experimental supersonic jet was captured flying over the United States on Wednesday, exactly one year after its maiden flight, as the aircraft began a cross-country journey from California to Florida. NASA said the X-59’s first flight, piloted by test pilot Nils Larson, took place from the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works assembly site in Palmdale, California, to the agency’s Armstrong Flight Research Center. The initial flight focused on low-speed and low-altitude systems checks.
X-59 making her way to @NASAKennedy”. 28, 2025, NASA’s X-59 has continued pushing the boundaries of aviation. Videos of the distinctive aircraft have since surfaced on social media, drawing attention to the milestone. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman responded to one such video on X, writing: “Great catch… The aircraft was en route to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida when it was spotted by people across the US. Videos of the unusual-looking jet were subsequently widely shared on X, drawing attention to its distinctive pencil-thin design. Its journey comes as the space agency marks a year of flight testing for the experimental aircraft, which is the centrepiece of its Quesst mission. NASA Aeronautics also marked the anniversary in a post on X, saying, “One year. New heights. Faster speeds. Since its first flight on Oct. See how far we’ve come in just one year!”
NASA designed the X-59 to fly at Mach 1.4, or approximately 925 mph, at an altitude of 55,000 feet. It is an experimental research aircraft, not a prototype passenger plane, and will never carry passengers. The aircraft is not a prototype for a passenger airliner and will not carry passengers. NASA plans to use it to gather data on the sound generated during supersonic flight and residents’ responses when it flies over selected US communities.