The second test flight of the U.S. "Silent" X-59 supersonic jet was interrupted due to a malfunction.
But the research team said it was a great day.
As reported by SpaceNews on March 23.
The U.S. "Silent" supersonic X-59 aircraft conducted its second flight on March 20, 2026.
The revolutionary X-59 took off Friday and landed just nine minutes later; the second flight was abruptly terminated when a warning light illuminated in the cockpit.
"Despite the early landing, it was a great day for the team. We collected more data, and the pilot landed safely," said project manager Casey Bum: "We look forward to resuming flights as soon as possible."
Civilian supersonic flight has been prohibited over the United States since 1973 due to the destructive impact of sonic booms.
The "Silent" supersonic X-59 aircraft will open doors to new commercial freight and passenger markets, offering supersonic air travel services.
NASA had hoped the X-59's second flight would last about an hour.
But that plan did not come to fruition.
"The takeoff roll and liftoff were both smooth. We were climbing and preparing to establish our first test point when we received a warning that required us to return to base immediately," Les said during a press briefing Friday afternoon.
"Although we didn't originally plan for such an urgent landing, the aircraft performed exceptionally well," he added.
The exact cause of the warning is still unknown.
They added that about one hour before takeoff, another aircraft system had displayed a lower-level 'caution' signal, but it did not lead to cancellation of the flight attempt.
According to Les, both issues are under review, and there is no reason to be overly concerned about either one.
"This is just the beginning of a long series of test flights," he said. "We've gathered data we didn't have before, and many more flight missions lie ahead to collect even more data."
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1860491043749892/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author