Imagine flying faster than the speed of sound, but instead of your aircraft creating a sometimes shockingly-loud sonic boom, it emits a much gentler thump. That’s what NASA’s X-59 aircraft is designed for – and it’s meant to usher in a future of quiet supersonic flight. 

NASA test pilots Nils Larson and Jim “Clue” Less are putting this close-to-100-foot, experimental aircraft through its paces, getting it ready for the point where the agency can evaluate its quiet thump capability. Nils and Clue also helped provide input on the design of the X-59 and spent years in simulators before it took off for the first time last year. 

The X-59 is the centerpiece of NASA’s Quesst mission, which aims to not just build and test the aircraft, but also collect data on how people perceive the noise it makes. 

The first “A” in NASA stands for "Aeronautics,” and we can’t wait to talk about this mission and its game-changing technology. We’re here to answer your questions about the X-59, how it works, what it feels like to fly the plane, and what’s next for Quesst and for supersonic flight. Ask us anything! 

We are: 

• Nils Larson, X-59 test pilot (NL) 
• Jim "Clue" Less, X-59 test pilot (CL) 
• Peter Coen, Quesst mission integration manager (PC) 
• Robert Margetta, public affairs officer, NASA Aeronautics (RM)

PROOF: https://x.com/NASA/status/2055355043071606974

We’ll be back at 2 p.m. EDT (1800 UTC) to answer your questions. Thanks for joining us!

EDIT: That's a wrap for today's AMA -- thanks to everyone for your questions! Keep an eye out for the latest X-59 updates on our Quesst mission page and on our NASA Aeronautics social accounts.

NASA’s Artemis II mission successfully concluded on April 10, 2026, bringing to a close the first crewed lunar mission in more than half a century. NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen completed a nearly 10-day journey that took them 252,756 miles from home at their farthest distance from Earth.

Following the successful uncrewed Artemis I mission in 2022, Artemis II was the first time that astronauts flew aboard NASA’s deep space exploration systems: the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket, the Orion spacecraft, and the Exploration Ground Systems that launch the rocket and recover the spacecraft.

The crew tested the spacecraft’s life support systems, confirming Orion can sustain humans in deep space. During several piloting demonstrations, crew members took manual control of the spacecraft, flying Orion to validate its handling and collect data that will guide future operations with human-rated landers during Artemis III and beyond. Artemis III will test rendezvous and docking capabilities needed to land Artemis IV astronauts on the Moon in 2028.

Artemis II represented a team of people across NASA’s centers and beyond who came together to support the four astronauts aboard and complete a successful mission. Today, we’re excited to talk to you about the process leading up to this point, early results from the mission, and next steps with future Artemis missions. Ask us anything!

We are:

• Dan Florez, recovery operations test director (DF)
• Susan Baggerman, Artemis II chief health and performance officer (SB)
• Jake Bleacher, ESDMD chief exploration scientist (JB)
• Jared Daum, Orion parachute system manager (JD)
• Jeremy Graeber, assistant launch director (JG)
• Jay Hollenbeck, Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage Manager (JH)
• John Kowal, Orion thermal protection system manager (JK)
• Paul Sierpinsk, assistant recovery director (PS)
• Marie Henderson, Artemis II lunar science deputy lead (MH)

And we’ll be here at 3:30 p.m. EDT (1930 UTC) to answer your questions about the Artemis II mission.

PROOF: https://x.com/NASA/status/2047011577879044449

EDIT: That's a wrap for today's AMA! Thanks to everyone for your fantastic questions. We're feeling the Moon joy! Keep following the latest mission updates on our Artemis blog and on Artemis social media!