This means a New York to London flight could take less than 90 minutes.
Fifty key routes, primarily across the Atlantic and Pacific, have been identified. NASA’s current focus is on transoceanic routes, where sonic booms caused by supersonic speed are less problematic. The development’s next phase is contracting aerospace companies for concept design for the X-59 QueSST (“Quiet SuperSonic Technology”).
Boeing will lead the first contract, and Northrop Grumman aeronautics systems will manage the second. Both companies have very strong ties to the US government. They are both working with various experienced aerospace companies to tackle aspects like airframe, power, propulsion, thermal management, and materials needed to achieve Mach 4 speeds.
