Watch NASA test its new X-59 jet designed to go faster than the speed of sound

"The X-59 jet is designed to break the sound barrier over land but with a sonic thud rather than a boom, addressing noise pollution concerns."

"Featuring a needlelike tip, it's designed to travel at more than 1,000 miles per hour—about twice as fast as a commercial jet—while limiting the noise of the boom."

"NASA expects its sonic thump to be as loud as distant thunder or the thud of a car door closing down the block."

"Eventually, NASA hopes to deliberately fly the jet over neighborhoods in the U.S. and to survey residents about their experience with hearing the reduced sound."

NASA's X-59 jet is designed to break the sound barrier over land while minimizing noise pollution. The aircraft can travel over 1,000 miles per hour, generating a sonic thump instead of a boom. This quieter sound is expected to resemble distant thunder or a car door closing. New footage shows the jet performing maneuvers in the air. NASA plans to test the jet over U.S. neighborhoods and gather feedback from residents regarding the sound experience.

Read at www.scientificamerican.com