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submitted 1 year ago by deconstruct@lemm.ee to c/technology@lemmy.ml

In July, Lockheed Martin completed the build of NASA’s X-59 test aircraft, which is designed to turn sonic booms into mere thumps, in the hope of making overland supersonic flight a possibility. Ground tests and a first test flight are planned for later in the year. NASA aims to have enough data to hand over to US regulators in 2027.

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[-] lntl@lemmy.ml 20 points 1 year ago

Whose going to be able to afford this? Air fare is already expensive.

Also, why is NASA doing this with tax dollars?

Is this stupid or am I stupid and missing something obvious?

[-] papertowels@lemmy.one 15 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I imagine the same was asked when jet planes were first invented, now look at where we are.

NASA is likely doing this with tax dollars because private industry has little reason to push forward research that does not yield an immediate ROI. Not yielding an immediate ROI is a very myopic driver of priorities.

[-] lntl@lemmy.ml 7 points 1 year ago

In the west, jet engines were developed to kill fascists and communists. The ROI was good.

I don't see the parallel

[-] zephyreks@programming.dev 7 points 1 year ago

Weren't jet engines developed by the Germans to kill the Allies?

[-] alcoholicorn@hexbear.net 3 points 1 year ago

Both sides developed jet engines. The allies didn't get them into a fighter until after the war though.

[-] Revan343@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 year ago

They were in development in various countries simultaneously, Spain would have likely gotten there first if not for Franco. Germany did manage the first jet fighter and bomber though, with Britain not long after

[-] lntl@lemmy.ml 0 points 1 year ago

Everyone was developing them, more or less. The thing is, the enemy doesn't usually share their tech with you so you've got to develop programs independently.

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this post was submitted on 26 Aug 2023
395 points (96.5% liked)

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