A supersonic passenger jet broke the sound barrier without producing a loud sonic boom. The rare feat was captured in a groundbreaking NASA image released on Monday.
The photo, taken during a test flight over the Mojave Desert on Feb. 10, 2025, shows the XB-1 jet from Boom Supersonic as it soared at 772 mph, or Mach 1.18. The Colorado-based company says the XB-1 is the first U.S.-built civilian jet designed to reach supersonic speeds.
NASA and Boom Supersonic used a specialized imaging technique to capture the moment, revealing air distortions and shock waves that are typically invisible to the naked eye. The test could mark a major step toward developing commercial supersonic travel without disruptive noise.
Precision flight captures a rare image
Chief Test Pilot Tristan Geppetto Brandenburg played a key role in making the photo possible. He had to position the XB-1 in the correct location at the precise moment, allowing NASA’s team on the ground to photograph it passing in front of the sun.
Researchers employed telescopes with special filters to detect the shock waves that form when an aircraft exceeds the speed of sound. These waves cause the loud sonic booms that have traditionally rendered supersonic travel over land impractical.
No sonic boom was heard on the ground
Boom Supersonic CEO Blake Scholl said the XB-1 did not produce the expected sonic boom despite reaching supersonic speed.
Data suggest that sound waves refract in the air under specific speeds and atmospheric conditions, preventing them from reaching the ground. The findings could help make supersonic passenger flights quieter and more viable for commercial travel.
NASA’s advancements in supersonic imaging
After a decade of research, NASA first developed the technology to capture shock waves visually in 2019. The imaging technique was designed to support future supersonic aircraft development, including NASA’s experimental jet, the X-59.
“Knowing where the air is really moving tells you a lot about what your vehicle is doing, how efficient it is, and how you can make it better,” said Ed Haering, a lead NASA researcher.
The future of supersonic travel
Boom Supersonic is working to revive commercial supersonic travel, which ended when the Concorde was retired in 2003. The company aims to develop a next-generation aircraft capable of high-speed travel while reducing noise pollution.
With NASA’s ongoing research and advancements, supersonic jet flights over land may soon become a reality—without the deafening booms that once made breaking the sound barrier challenging.
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