Astronauts in X-57 Simulator at Armstrong Flight Research Center

NASA's 2017 astronaut candidates (L to R) Bob Hines, Matthew Dominick and Jasmin Moghbeli practice flying in X-57 aircraft simulator at Armstrong Flight Research Center in Southern California. Starting with the fuselage of a Tecnam P20067T, the X-57 Maxwell electric propulsion airplane is being built from ideas being researched that could lead to the development of electric propulsion-powered aircraft, which would be quieter, more efficient and environmentally friendly than today's commuter aircraft.