X-59 Adds Freedom 250 Logo - NASA
By Robert Margetta
Published on April 22, 2026.
The mission of the Smithsonian is to explore the possibility of commercializing faster-than-sound air travel over land. The X-59 research aircraft is designed with technology that reduces the loudness of a sonic boom to a gentle thump and will be used to collect data from people around the world. The mission will also involve flying the X-69 over select U.S. communities to observe the effects of the impact of this new technology on the environment.
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