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Quesst Mission Image Gallery

This collection of images showcases the history, research, and operations associated with NASA's Quesst mission to enable the possibility of commercial supersonic flight over land.

NASA test pilot Nils Larson steps out of the X-59 after successfully completing the aircraft’s first flight Tuesday, Oct. 28,...
Nils Larson steps down a ladder beside the X-59’s cockpit. He is wearing a tan flight suit with the aircraft parked on the ramp and its canopy open behind him.
The X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft arrives at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, following its first flight...
The X-59 pulls onto the ramp at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center. In front of the aircraft, the crew chief stands with arms raised to guide it in, while another flight crew member stands beside the aircraft. An audience is visible in the background near a large hangar.
NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft cruises above Palmdale and Edwards, California, during its first flight, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025....
NASA’s X-59 is seen in flight, with a blue sky and mountains behind it and land below it. The aircraft’s long nose and distinct silhouette are visible as it ferries to NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California.
NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft lifts off for its first flight Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, from U.S. Air Force...
NASA’s X-59 flies above the Mojave Desert against a blue sky. Its long nose points slightly upward to the right, with the landing gear down. The aircraft is side-lit, with layered mountains visible in the background during its ferry to NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California.
NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft flies above Palmdale and Edwards, California, on its first flight Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025,...
NASA’s X-59 flies above the Mojave Desert with a NASA F-15 off its left wing. The X-59’s landing gear is down and below it the desert landscape stretches toward rows of windmills in front of mountains.
NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft flies above Palmdale and Edwards, California, on its first flight Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025....
NASA’s X-59 flies above the Mojave Desert against a blue sky. The aircraft’s long nose is angled slightly upward to the left, with its landing gear down. Layers of mountains are visible in the background. The aircraft is backlit, appearing to float as it ferries to NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California.
NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft lifts off for its first flight Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, from U.S. Air Force...
NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft lifts off from the runway at U.S. Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California. The nose is angled slightly upward, and the landing gear is down as it ascends under a blue sky. The tops of buildings are visible below, with mountains in the far background.
NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft lifts off for its first flight Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, from U.S. Air Force...
NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft lifts off from the runway at U.S. Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California. Its wheels are just slightly off the runway. Heat waves are visible off the back of the aircraft as it ascends under a clear sky. Rows of Joshua trees stretch toward the mountains in the background.
NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft taxis across the runway during a low-speed taxi test at U.S. Air Force Plant...
NASA’s X-59 aircraft taxis on the runway at U.S. Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California. The aircraft is shown in profile moving from right to left, with the control tower and desert mountains in the background. In the foreground, the gray concrete runway features a solid yellow line with evenly spaced parallel black stripes inside it, all under a clear blue sky.
NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft moves under its own power for the first time at Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works...
ASA’s X-59 aircraft exits a large white hangar labeled “STALL 5” at Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works facility in Palmdale, California. The aircraft is positioned nose-first, with a crew chief in the foreground raising both hands to guide its movement. Five other ground crew members stand nearby, monitoring clearance. Sunlight hits the aircraft’s nose and canopy. In the foreground, the gray concrete surface has a yellow stripe starting at the bottom left corner and running toward the aircraft’s front tire.
Here you see the X-59 scaled model inside the JAXA supersonic wind tunnel during critical tests related to sound predictions.
X-59 scaled model inside the JAXA supersonic wind tunnel.
NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft sits inside its run stall in preparation for maximum afterburner testing at Lockheed Martin’s...
NASA’s X-59 sits partially outside a white hangar at Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works Facility in Palmdale, California, during sunset, as engineers prepare it for afterburner testing.
NASA’s X-59 competes with sunset for best light show with its unique Mach diamonds, also known as shock diamonds, during...
NASA’s X-59 sits partially in a white hangar and emits bright flames with visible shock diamonds from its engine against an evening sky during maximum afterburner testing outside Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works Facility in Palmdale, California.
NASA’s X-59 fires up its jet engine against a darkening sky, showcasing its unique Mach diamonds, also known as shock...
NASA’s X-59 sits partially in a white hangar and emits bright flames with visible shock diamonds from its engine against a darkening sky during maximum afterburner testing outside Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works Facility in Palmdale, California.
NASA’s X-59 complements the glow of the sky at dusk with its unique Mach diamonds, also known as shock diamonds,...
NASA’s X-59 sits partially in a white hangar and emits bright flames with visible shock diamonds from its engine at sunset during maximum afterburner testing outside Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works Facility in Palmdale, California.
NASA’s X-59 lights up the night sky with its unique Mach diamonds, also known as shock diamonds, during maximum afterburner...
NASA’s X-59 sits partially in a white hangar and emits bright flames with visible shock diamonds from its engine at sunset during maximum afterburner testing outside Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works Facility in Palmdale, California.
A closer view of the powerful afterburner exhaust coming from the tail of NASA’s X-59 supersonic technology demonstrator, it’s characteristic...
NASA’s X-59 emits bright flames with visible shock diamonds from its engine at sunset during maximum afterburner testing outside Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works Facility in Palmdale, California.
NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft sits inside its run stall following maximum afterburner testing at Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works...
NASA’s X-59 sits partially outside a white hangar at Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works Facility in Palmdale, California after sunset.
Bathed in dramatic lighting, NASA's X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft is seen fully assembled and painted at Lockheed Martin's Skunk...
NASA's X-59 airplane sits in its hangar with lights shining on it.
A close-up front view showcases the long, slightly flattened nose of the X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft, seen here bathed...
A front view of the X-59 airplane showcases its long, slender, and slightly flattened nose.
NASA's X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft is dramatically lit for a "glamour shot," captured before its Jan. 12, 2024, rollout...
NASA's X-59 airplane sits in its hangar with lights shining on it.
NASA and Lockheed Martin publicly unveil the X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft at a ceremony in Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works...
Members of an audience lift their phones to snap a photo of the recently revealed X-59 aircraft. The plane's long, sharp nose appears to jut out towards the audience.
NASA's X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft is dramatically lit for a "glamour shot," captured before its Jan. 12, 2024, rollout...
NASA's X-59 airplane sits on the ground with lights shining on it.
With the sun about to rise over the California high desert, NASA's X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft is seen fully...
NASA's X-59 airplane is seen parked with the open desert behind it and a row of city lights on part of the horizon.
NASA's X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft is seen fully assembled and painted on the ramp at Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works...
NASA's X-59 sits parked outside its hangar.
NASA test pilots Nils Larson (left) and Jim “Clue” Less (right), and Lockheed Martin test pilot Dan “Dog” Canin pose...
In this photo, NASA research pilot Nils Larsen, Lockheed Martin test pilot Dan “Dog” Canin, and NASA research pilot Jim Less stand in front of the X-59.
NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft sits on the ramp at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works in Palmdale, California during sunrise,...
In this photo, NASA’s X-59 aircraft is shown at sunrise at the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works in Palmdale, California. Open desert can be seen behind the aircraft. The X-59’s design features a long nose, approximately one-third of the aircraft’s nearly 100-foot length, swept-back wings, and an engine mounted on top and toward the rear of the fuselage.
NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft sits on the ramp at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works in Palmdale, California during sunrise,...
NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft sits on the ramp at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works in Palmdale, California during sunrise,...
In this photo, NASA’s X-59 aircraft is shown at sunrise with its new paint scheme. The aircraft is mostly white with a blue underside and red accents on its swept back wings.
A view looking into the hangar where NASA's X-59 is parked.
A view looking into the hangar where NASA's X-59 is parked.
NASA’s X-59 sits in support framing while undergoing the installation of its lower empennage, or tail section, at Lockheed Martin...
Back view of the X-59 tail with a red cover over the engine nozzle. The red plug or covering protects the engine by creating a barrier so that foreign objects cannot enter the engine or engine inlet.
NASA’s X-59 has undergone final installation of its lower empennage, better known as the tail assembly. NASA’s X-59 has undergone...
Back-side view of the X-59 tail with a red cover over the engine nozzle. The red plug or covering protects the engine by creating a barrier so that foreign objects cannot enter the engine or engine inlet.
Ernest Williams has played a key role in the X-59 Quesst mission as an electrical engineer at NASA’s Glenn Research...
Man in shirt and tie looks at camera while standing inside a laboratory vacuum chamber.
The supersonic X-1E research aircraft was the last of NASA's experimental X-1 series of aircraft. From 1955-1958, it made 26...
The X-1E aircraft dominates the foreground of this photo. It is white, with its designation written on its side in big orange letters. The Moon is in the background, lined up with the nose of the airplane.
Before NASA’s quiet supersonic X-59 aircraft takes to the skies, plenty of testing happens to ensure a safe first flight....
A technician works on the X-59 model during testing in the low-speed wind tunnel.
A model of the X-59 aircraft, the centerpiece of NASA’s mission to gather information intended to help enable a new...
X59 JAXA Quesst Japan Wind Tunnel
Don Durston never grew out of building model planes – they’re just a whole lot more sophisticated these days! The...
A man in a red shirt leans forward to look closely at a metal airplane model installed in a wind tunnel.
This colorized schlieren image is of a small-scale model of NASA’s X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology (QueSST) airplane taken inside NASA...
A colorized schlieren image (red and black) of a small-scale model of NASA’s X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology (QueSST) airplane taken inside the 8- by- 6-foot Supersonic Wind Tunnel during a recent boom test.
NASA’s X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology aircraft (QueSST) is pictured here at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works in California, wrapped up in...
X-59 wrapped with a red bow to prepare for it's move to Texas.
The NASA and Lockheed Martin team behind the X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology (QueSST) have recently removed the aircraft from its...
The X-59 is free from its structural support jig for the first time.