NASA Captures Photo of Aircraft Breaking the Sound Barrier
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Science
March 4, 2025 15:07
- A supersonic jet breaking the sound barrier was recently captured in a photo by NASA, making the invisible visible.
NASA Captures Photo of Supersonic Jet Breaking the Sound Barrier
An American supersonic jet, the XB-1 from Boom Supersonic, was photographed breaking the sound barrier on February 10. NASA teams on the ground captured the shockwaves, revealing the invisible.
To capture the image, pilot Tristan 'Geppetto' Brandenburg had to precisely position the XB-1 above the Mojave Desert in California. NASA's team documented the changing air speeds and observed speeds exceeding Mach 1, the speed of sound.
Special ground telescopes with filters detecting air distortions were used to capture the images. Data on the sound produced by the XB-1 during the flight was also collected, revealing no audible supersonic boom.
Boom Supersonic aims to reintroduce commercial supersonic aviation without the disruptive sonic booms, enabling faster coast-to-coast flights.
The XB-1, precursor to Boom's commercial supersonic airliner Overture, has already received 130 orders from airlines like American Airlines, United Airlines, and Japan Airlines.
CEO Blake Scholl believes supersonic aircraft will revolutionize commercial aviation, with Overture expected to operate by the end of the decade, flying at Mach 1.7 and carrying 64 to 80 passengers.