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Quesst Mission Image Gallery

This collection of images showcases the history, research, and operations associated with NASA's Quesst mission to enable the possibility of commercial supersonic flight over land.

NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft sits inside its run stall in preparation for maximum afterburner testing at Lockheed Martin’s...
NASA’s X-59 sits partially outside a white hangar at Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works Facility in Palmdale, California, during sunset, as engineers prepare it for afterburner testing.
NASA’s X-59 competes with sunset for best light show with its unique Mach diamonds, also known as shock diamonds, during...
NASA’s X-59 sits partially in a white hangar and emits bright flames with visible shock diamonds from its engine against an evening sky during maximum afterburner testing outside Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works Facility in Palmdale, California.
NASA’s X-59 fires up its jet engine against a darkening sky, showcasing its unique Mach diamonds, also known as shock...
NASA’s X-59 sits partially in a white hangar and emits bright flames with visible shock diamonds from its engine against a darkening sky during maximum afterburner testing outside Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works Facility in Palmdale, California.
NASA’s X-59 complements the glow of the sky at dusk with its unique Mach diamonds, also known as shock diamonds,...
NASA’s X-59 sits partially in a white hangar and emits bright flames with visible shock diamonds from its engine at sunset during maximum afterburner testing outside Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works Facility in Palmdale, California.
NASA’s X-59 lights up the night sky with its unique Mach diamonds, also known as shock diamonds, during maximum afterburner...
NASA’s X-59 sits partially in a white hangar and emits bright flames with visible shock diamonds from its engine at sunset during maximum afterburner testing outside Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works Facility in Palmdale, California.
A closer view of the powerful afterburner exhaust coming from the tail of NASA’s X-59 supersonic technology demonstrator, it’s characteristic...
NASA’s X-59 emits bright flames with visible shock diamonds from its engine at sunset during maximum afterburner testing outside Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works Facility in Palmdale, California.
NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft sits inside its run stall following maximum afterburner testing at Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works...
NASA’s X-59 sits partially outside a white hangar at Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works Facility in Palmdale, California after sunset.
Bathed in dramatic lighting, NASA's X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft is seen fully assembled and painted at Lockheed Martin's Skunk...
NASA's X-59 airplane sits in its hangar with lights shining on it.
A close-up front view showcases the long, slightly flattened nose of the X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft, seen here bathed...
A front view of the X-59 airplane showcases its long, slender, and slightly flattened nose.
NASA's X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft is dramatically lit for a "glamour shot," captured before its Jan. 12, 2024, rollout...
NASA's X-59 airplane sits in its hangar with lights shining on it.
NASA and Lockheed Martin publicly unveil the X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft at a ceremony in Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works...
Members of an audience lift their phones to snap a photo of the recently revealed X-59 aircraft. The plane's long, sharp nose appears to jut out towards the audience.
NASA's X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft is dramatically lit for a "glamour shot," captured before its Jan. 12, 2024, rollout...
NASA's X-59 airplane sits on the ground with lights shining on it.
With the sun about to rise over the California high desert, NASA's X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft is seen fully...
NASA's X-59 airplane is seen parked with the open desert behind it and a row of city lights on part of the horizon.
NASA's X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft is seen fully assembled and painted on the ramp at Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works...
NASA's X-59 sits parked outside its hangar.
NASA test pilots Nils Larson (left) and Jim “Clue” Less (right), and Lockheed Martin test pilot Dan “Dog” Canin pose...
In this photo, NASA research pilot Nils Larsen, Lockheed Martin test pilot Dan “Dog” Canin, and NASA research pilot Jim Less stand in front of the X-59.
NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft sits on the ramp at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works in Palmdale, California during sunrise,...
In this photo, NASA’s X-59 aircraft is shown at sunrise at the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works in Palmdale, California. Open desert can be seen behind the aircraft. The X-59’s design features a long nose, approximately one-third of the aircraft’s nearly 100-foot length, swept-back wings, and an engine mounted on top and toward the rear of the fuselage.
NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft sits on the ramp at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works in Palmdale, California during sunrise,...
NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft sits on the ramp at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works in Palmdale, California during sunrise,...
In this photo, NASA’s X-59 aircraft is shown at sunrise with its new paint scheme. The aircraft is mostly white with a blue underside and red accents on its swept back wings.
A view looking into the hangar where NASA's X-59 is parked.
A view looking into the hangar where NASA's X-59 is parked.
NASA’s X-59 sits in support framing while undergoing the installation of its lower empennage, or tail section, at Lockheed Martin...
Back view of the X-59 tail with a red cover over the engine nozzle. The red plug or covering protects the engine by creating a barrier so that foreign objects cannot enter the engine or engine inlet.
NASA’s X-59 has undergone final installation of its lower empennage, better known as the tail assembly. NASA’s X-59 has undergone...
Back-side view of the X-59 tail with a red cover over the engine nozzle. The red plug or covering protects the engine by creating a barrier so that foreign objects cannot enter the engine or engine inlet.
Ernest Williams has played a key role in the X-59 Quesst mission as an electrical engineer at NASA’s Glenn Research...
Man in shirt and tie looks at camera while standing inside a laboratory vacuum chamber.
The supersonic X-1E research aircraft was the last of NASA's experimental X-1 series of aircraft. From 1955-1958, it made 26...
The X-1E aircraft dominates the foreground of this photo. It is white, with its designation written on its side in big orange letters. The Moon is in the background, lined up with the nose of the airplane.
Before NASA’s quiet supersonic X-59 aircraft takes to the skies, plenty of testing happens to ensure a safe first flight....
A technician works on the X-59 model during testing in the low-speed wind tunnel.
A model of the X-59 aircraft, the centerpiece of NASA’s mission to gather information intended to help enable a new...
X59 JAXA Quesst Japan Wind Tunnel
Don Durston never grew out of building model planes – they’re just a whole lot more sophisticated these days! The...
A man in a red shirt leans forward to look closely at a metal airplane model installed in a wind tunnel.
This colorized schlieren image is of a small-scale model of NASA’s X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology (QueSST) airplane taken inside NASA...
A colorized schlieren image (red and black) of a small-scale model of NASA’s X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology (QueSST) airplane taken inside the 8- by- 6-foot Supersonic Wind Tunnel during a recent boom test.
NASA’s X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology aircraft (QueSST) is pictured here at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works in California, wrapped up in...
X-59 wrapped with a red bow to prepare for it's move to Texas.
The NASA and Lockheed Martin team behind the X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology (QueSST) have recently removed the aircraft from its...
The X-59 is free from its structural support jig for the first time.
The X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology (QueSST) aircraft is taking shape at the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works facility in Palmdale, California....
The X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology (QueSST) aircraft's nose is being attached to the front of the aircraft.
Pictured at left: The low pressure (hypobaric) chamber at KBR’s facility in San Antonio, Texas, simulates very high altitudes by...
Two images showing a KBR employee and a military test volunteer prepare for an altitude chamber flight.
NASA’s X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology X-plane is designed to fly faster than the speed of sound without producing sonic booms.
The image shows a moment from a computational fluid dynamics simulation of the X-59 aircraft concept during supersonic flight.
NASA’s X-59 requires the use of creative and strategic supersonic technologies to control and soften the jarring sound that hits...
A technician is working on the engine inlet of NASA’s X-59 Quiet Supersonic Technology (QueSST) aircraft at Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works facility in Palmdale, California.
NASA is targeting 2022 for the first flight of the X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology (QueSST) research aircraft. Its mission –...
A technician performs work on the assembly of the X-59 wing section.
NASA is on a mission to revolutionize supersonic air travel for passengers across the globe. In this image, you’ll see...
X-59 Construction Reaches Halfway Point
This image actually is the product of a complex computer simulation involving supersonic shockwaves.
This image is actually is the product of a complex computer simulation involving supersonic shockwaves.
NASA’s X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology X-plane is designed to fly faster than the speed of sound without producing sonic booms...
The image shows a moment from a computational fluid dynamics simulation of the X-59 aircraft concept during supersonic flight.
NASA continues to make progress on the assembly of the X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology, or QueSST, aircraft, while overcoming challenges...
Artist concept of the X-59 taking off from the runway.
Take a moment and just stare at this beautiful airplane. Whether or not you have an interest in aeronautics or...
NASA's F/A-18 taking off from Ellington Field.
Technicians at Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works factory in Palmdale, California examine the cockpit section of NASA’s X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology...
Technicians examining the cockpit section of NASA’s X-59 plane.