Supersonic technologies for aviation and space

NASA and Lockheed Martin tested the “quiet” supersonic X-59 in a Japanese wind tunnel. NASA researchers, in collaboration with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), have completed another series of tests on a full-scale model of the X-59 QueSST experimental aircraft in a supersonic wind tunnel in Chofu, Tokyo Prefecture. The 19-inch model (1.62% of actual size) passed through a wind tunnel simulating a cruising speed of Mach 1.4 (≈ 925 mph or 1,488 km/h) and collected critical data on pressure distribution and noise levels under the aircraft.

The key feature of the X-59 is its elongated fuselage and lack of a front windshield, which allows shock waves to be stretched out and transforms the traditional powerful sonic boom into a short, muffled rumble. Reducing noise pollution could pave the way for lifting the ban on supersonic passenger aircraft flying over land, which has been in place in the US since 1973.

The tests in Chofu were the third stage of the aerodynamic series, following previous tests in the same wind tunnel and at NASA’s Glenn Research Center (Ohio). At the same time, assembly of the full-scale X-59 is nearing completion in Palmdale, California, with the first flight scheduled for later this year. After certification, the aircraft will perform “community flights” over residential areas in the US to gather public opinion on acceptable noise levels.

Research into shock wave control and accurate aerodynamic prediction at speeds of M~1.4 is useful not only for civil aviation. The CFD modeling techniques, pressure sensors, and noise reduction algorithms developed for the X-59 can be directly applied to:

• Designing a softer entry into the atmosphere for reusable spacecraft and returning capsules with high landing accuracy;
• Aerodynamics of high-altitude observatory platforms that will operate in the stratosphere and require minimal vibration and acoustic interference on telescopic instruments;
• Developing future transportation systems for rapid flight between ground-based spaceports, reducing the logistics chain for satellite launches and maintenance.

Thus, successfully “taming” supersonic noise not only revives the dream of fast intercontinental travel, but also provides the tools for quieter and safer space technology.

If you are interested in innovations that are changing the rules of the game in aviation, the next logical step is to learn how advanced aerodynamic and rocket technologies are used in the defense sector. See our article “Ballistics, THAAD, and War in Orbit: Modern Technologies of Confrontation” to learn how hypersonic interceptors and orbital defense systems are shaping a new security strategy.

According to NASA