NASA's X-59 jet is on the brink of its first supersonic flight, scheduled for this month. Designed to minimize sonic booms, the X-59 aims to reach speeds of Mach 1.4 (925 mph) at an altitude of 55,000 feet. Project manager Cathy Bahm emphasized the significance of this flight, marking a critical step in validating the aircraft's performance in its intended environment. The X-59 has successfully completed 14 test flights since March 2026, including recent milestones like retracting its landing gear and achieving speeds up to Mach 0.95 (627 mph). A unique feature of the X-59 is its eXternal Vision System (XVS), which compensates for the lack of a forward windscreen by using cameras to provide pilots with augmented reality views. Following this flight, NASA plans to enter Phase 2 of testing in 2026, focusing on reducing the impact of sonic booms on the ground. The goal is to eventually lift the 1973 prohibition on supersonic flight over land in the U.S., potentially reviving commercial supersonic travel, which could significantly reduce travel times and enhance emergency response capabilities.