NASA wants to adapt space technology for commercial flights. The US aerospace agency is exploring the possibility of creating a supersonic aircraft. Travel from London to New York in just 2 hours it would be possible.
NASA’s Glenn Research Center released a post explaining details about their study.
“Flying from New York City to London up to four times faster than is currently possible may seem like a distant dream, but new NASA studies are already exploring whether the commercial market could support travel at supersonic speeds”, indicates a post on social network X, formerly Twitter.
An airplane with the technology of NASA and other companies like Boeing and Northrop Grumman, would travel at speeds between Mach 2 and Mach 4 (from 2,450 kilometers per hour to 4,900 kilometers per hour).
Today’s planes do at 965 kilometers per hour.
Boeing and Northrop Grumman will contribute their ideas to NASA for the commercial supersonic airplane
Lori Ozoroski, manager of NASA’s Commercial Supersonic Technology Project, stated the vision of the agency.
“We conducted similar conceptual studies over a decade ago at Mach 1.6 – 1.8, and those resulting roadmaps helped guide NASA research efforts. ever since, including those that led to the X-59.”
The agency notes that it was granted two 12-month contracts to groups led by Boeing and Northrop Grumman, in order to develop conceptual designs and technology roadmaps.
The latter will explore the possibilities of air travel, describe the risks and identify the necessary technologies. to make commercial flights at speeds greater than Mach 2 a reality.
Studies also cover the benefits for travelers and the protection of the environment.
NASA and its commercial partners will decide, after the phase of participation of the companies, whether to continue with the investigation. What will be the next step?