Home
Science
Science News
NASA’s X 59 Moves Closer to First Flight with Advanced Taxi Tests and Augmented Vision

NASA’s X-59 Moves Closer to First Flight with Advanced Taxi Tests and Augmented Vision

NASA’s X-59, a 99-foot experimental aircraft developed with Lockheed Martin, has entered the taxi test phase at California’s Plant 42.

Written by Gadgets 360 Staff | Updated: 25 July 2025 21:21 IST

NASA’s X-59 Moves Closer to First Flight with Advanced Taxi Tests and Augmented Vision

Photo Credit: NASA/Carla Thomas

NASA's X-59 underwent taxi testing in Palmdale on July 10, 2025

Highlights

X-59 aims to eliminate sonic booms with a quieter supersonic design
Augmented reality External Vision System replaces cockpit windshield
Initial taxi tests performed by test pilot Nils Larson at low speeds Tags

X-59 of NASA has been designed from the ground to fly at a faster speed of sound without making thunderous sonic booms, which are usually associated with supersonic flight. This 99-foot aircraft, which features a logically elongated design, jettisons the front windscreen and is now heading towards the runway. Pilots can see what is at the front through an augmented reality (AR) enabled closed-circuit camera system, which is termed by NASA as the External Vision System (XVS). NASA took control of an experimental aircraft and performed taxi tests on it during this month.

X-59's Futuristic Design: Eliminating Sonic Booms with External Vision System

According to As per NASA, the test pilot Nils Larson, during the test, drove the X-59 at the runway by keeping a low speed. This is done to ensure the working of the steering and braking systems of the jet. Lockheed Martina and NASA would perform the taxi tests at high speed, in which the X-59 will move faster to make it to the speed at which it will go for takeoff.

Taxi tests are held at the U.S. Air Force's Plant 42 facility in Palmdale, California. The contractors and the Air Force utilise the plant for manufacturing and testing the aircraft. Lockheed Martin has developed this aircraft, whose Skunk Works is found in Plant 42.

Earth to Spin Faster on July 22 to Place It Among Shortest Days in History

Taxi Tests at Plant 42: NASA and Lockheed Martin Prepare X-59 for First Flight

Some advanced aircraft of the U.S. military were developed to a certain extent at Plant 42, together with the B-2 Spirit, the F-22 Raptor, and the uncrewed RQ-170 Sentinel spy drone.

SOFIA airborne observatory aircraft, which is a flying telescope called Plant 42, home recently retired. The space shuttle of the agency is the world's first reusable spacecraft; these were assembled and tested at the facility.

Such taxi tests have started over the last months. NASA worked in collaboration with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency for testing a scale model of the X-59 in the supersonic wind tunnel to measure the noise created under the aircraft.

Algae-Grown Bioplastic Passes Mars Pressure Test, Boosting Hopes for Red Planet Habitats

NASA Tests Modular Satellite Tech to Cut Launch Costs and Speed Missions

Comments

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.

Further reading: NASA X-59, Supersonic Flight, Quiet Supersonic Transport, External Vision System, Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, Plant 42, AR Aircraft Technology, Nils Larson, Sonic Boom Reduction, NASA Taxi Tests