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EPISODE · Jan 21, 2026 · 25 MIN

Bringing Back Supersonic Flight

from Small Steps, Giant Leaps

Currently, flying faster than the speed of sound over land is prohibited for commercial flights because it creates disruptive sonic booms. NASA's experimental X-59 plane will research how to turn those booms into "sonic thumps," about as loud as a slamming car door. Lead pilot Nils Larson explains how the X-59 could usher in the next era of commercial supersonic flight.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jan 21, 2026

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Bringing Back Supersonic Flight

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This episode was published on January 21, 2026.

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