NASA's X-59 quiet supersonic experimental aircraft has made its highest and fastest flights so far, expanding its operational range and making progress toward supersonic flight.
The U.S. space agency said in a pair of test flights earlier this month, the aircraft reached new altitudes and speeds, reaching 43,000 feet and 528 to 627 mph, respectively, (approximately Mach 0.8 to 0.95 in those conditions). Those flights were the eighth and ninth overall for the X-59 and marked a jump from its previously reached altitude of 32,000 feet, attained on April 7. The aircraft continues to make operational progress since its first flight at 230 mph at 12,000 feet - but its current phase of flight testing, known as envelope expansion, is about more than just speed and altitude.
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April 24, 2026 15:15 ET Economics news flow was relatively light this week even as the conflict in the Middle East continued, raising concerns for policymakers. In the U.S., spending data, initial jobless claims and pending home sales were the highlights. Business confidence in the biggest euro area economy was in focus in Europe. Inflation data from Japan gained attention in Asia.