NASA X-59 reaches Mach 1.53 after completing record six test flights in one week
NASA's X-59 experimental aircraft reached a new top speed of Mach 1.53 during a record week of flight testing, the agency reported on October 2, 2026. The aircraft completed six test flights in a single week for the first time.
The flights took place during the week of September 21. The X-59 flew twice on September 22 and completed two flights on both September 24 and September 25.
X-59 has now completed 38 test flights
The six-flight sequence exceeded the aircraft's previous weekly record by two flights and brought the total number of X-59 test flights to 38.
During one of the tests, the aircraft reached Mach 1.53, approximately 1,010 mph. NASA says this is faster than the Mach 1.4 speed at which the X-59 is normally expected to cruise.
NASA is expanding the aircraft's flight envelope
The current tests are part of flight-envelope expansion, during which engineers examine how the aircraft performs at different speeds, altitudes and during different maneuvers.
The X-59 is central to NASA's Quesst mission, which is testing technology designed to produce quieter sonic thumps instead of conventional loud sonic booms. NASA ultimately plans to collect public responses to X-59 flights and provide the resulting data to US and international regulators considering future noise standards for commercial supersonic flight over land.
Following the record week, the X-59 entered scheduled maintenance expected to last about three weeks. NASA plans a systems review before flight testing resumes.
