London to New York in 90 minutes? Nasa moves a step closer to supersonic passenger flights

Envisioning a future where flights from New York City to London take up to four times less time than current standards might seem like a distant fantasy, but Nasa is actively exploring the viability of such high-speed travel in the commercial aviation market.

If Nasa's experiment is successful, you can fly from London to New York in 90 minutes. Currently, the flights between London and New York take around between 7 to 8 hours.

Recently, Nasa conducted an evaluation of the economic feasibility of supersonic air travel for passengers using aircraft capable of achieving speeds ranging from Mach 2 to Mach 4 (1,535-3,045 mph at sea level). In comparison, contemporary larger airliners typically cruise at around 600 mph, roughly 80% of the speed of sound.

The outcomes of Nasa's research indicated the potential for passenger demand on approximately 50 established routes connecting various cities. Given that supersonic flight over land is prohibited in the US and several other nations, the findings primarily addressed transoceanic travel, particularly busy North Atlantic and Pacific routes.

Concurrently, Nasa has been engaged in the Quesst mission, employing its X-59 quiet supersonic aircraft to generate data aimed at influencing regulatory adjustments for commercial supersonic flight overland. While unrelated to the aforementioned studies, Quesst remains part of Nasa's broader supersonic research initiatives.

Lori Ozoroski, project manager for Nasa's Commercial Supersonic Technology Project, noted, "We conducted similar concept studies over a decade ago at Mach 1.6-1.8, and those resulting roadmaps helped guide Nasa research efforts since, including those leading to the X-59. These new studies will both refresh those looks at technology roadmaps and identify additional research needs for a broader high-speed range."

The Advanced Air Vehicles Program (AAVP) at Nasa is now transitioning into the subsequent phase of its high-speed travel research, which entails awarding two 12-month contracts to companies for the development of concept designs and technology roadmaps. These roadmaps will explore various aspects of high-speed air travel, assess potential risks and challenges, and pinpoint necessary technologies to realize travel speeds exceeding Mach 2.

According to a note on the Nasa website, the primary team is led by Boeing, alongside collaborators Exosonic, GE Aerospace, Georgia Tech Aerospace Systems Design Laboratory, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, and others. The second team is headed by Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems, in conjunction with partners Blue Ridge Research and Consulting, Boom Supersonic, and Rolls-Royce North American Technologies.

Both teams will formulate roadmap components encompassing airframe design, power, propulsion, thermal management, and composite materials suitable for high-supersonic velocities. Additionally, they will create open-source designs for conceptual vehicles.

Mary Jo Long-Davis, manager of Nasa's Hypersonic Technology Project, emphasized the importance of these design concepts and technology roadmaps in shaping the agency's high-speed strategy. She noted the collective awareness of safety, efficiency, economic viability, and societal impacts in the pursuit of responsible innovation that benefits travelers while minimizing environmental harm.

Nasa's quest mission
Nasa's Quest Mission is a research program that is studying ways to make supersonic flight over land more acceptable to people on the ground. The main challenge of supersonic flight is the sonic boom, which is a loud noise that is created when an aircraft exceeds the speed of sound. The sonic boom can be disruptive and even harmful to people and property.

The X-59 QueSST research aircraft is a key part of the Quest Mission. The X-59 is a experimental supersonic aircraft that is being developed by Lockheed Martin for Nasa. The acronym QueSST stands for Quiet SuperSonic Technology, which refers to the aircraft's ability to fly faster than the speed of sound without producing a loud sonic boom. The supersonic aircraft has been designed to reduce the loudness of the sonic boom. The aircraft has a long, slender fuselage and a special nose cone that help to reduce the shock wave that is created when it breaks the sound barrier.

The X-59 is not a prototype for a commercial airliner. The X-59 is scheduled to make its first flight in 2023. After the first flight, the aircraft will be flown over several US communities to gather data on human responses to the sound generated during supersonic flight. This data will be used by Nasa to help regulators decide whether or not to allow commercial supersonic flights over land.