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The X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft flies above California. The plane has a distinctive shape with a long, sharply pointed nose. The nose is silver, while the rest of the body looks white. The words "NASA" and "X-59" are on the body of the aircraft. In the background, we can see brown earth below the plane as well as hazy mountains in the distance.

NASA’s Quesst Mission Marks X-59’s Historic First Flight

NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft lifts off for its first flight Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, from U.S. Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California. The aircraft’s first flight marks the start of flight testing for NASA’s Quesst mission, the result of years of design, integration, and ground testing and begins a new chapter in NASA’s aeronautics research legacy.

Image Credit: NASA/Lori Losey

TakenOctober 28, 2025

Image CreditNASA/Lori Losey

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