La NASA anticipa el primer vuelo del avión experimental X-59 para 2024 

Lee esta historia en inglés aquí.

La misión Quesst de la NASA ha ajustado la fecha prevista para el primer vuelo de su avión supersónico silencioso X-59 a 2024. 

El X-59, un avión experimental único en su clase, ha requerido una compleja labor de ingeniería por parte de los investigadores de la NASA que trabajan con el contratista principal Lockheed Martin Skunk Works. Además del diseño de la aeronave, el X-59 también combina nueva tecnología con sistemas y componentes de múltiples aeronaves ya establecidas, como su tren de aterrizaje procedente de un F-16 y su sistema de soporte vital adaptado de un F-15.  

Para poder desarrollar esta aeronave única, el equipo de Quesst está trabajando en varios retos técnicos identificados a lo largo de 2023, cuando estaba previsto que el X-59 realizara su primer vuelo.  Se necesita más tiempo para integrar plenamente los sistemas en la aeronave y garantizar que funcionen juntos como se espera. El equipo también está resolviendo problemas intermitentes con algunos de los ordenadores redundantes de seguridad que controlan los sistemas de la aeronave. 

Quesst realizó progresos constantes hacia el vuelo durante el pasado año. El equipo dio los últimos toques a la estructura de la cola del X-59, lo que les permitió finalizar su cableado eléctrico y continuar con las pruebas críticas en tierra, y trasladarlo desde sus instalaciones de ensamblaje a la línea de vuelo para realizar pruebas estructurales. 

El X-59 demostrará la capacidad de volar supersónicamente, es decir, más rápido que la velocidad del sonido, mientras reduce el normalmente fuerte estallido sónico, a un golpe más leve o silencioso. La NASA tiene previsto volar el X-59 sobre varias comunidades para obtener datos sobre cómo notan los residentes el sonido que hace. La agencia facilitará esa información a los organismos reguladores estadounidenses e internacionales para que modifiquen las normas que actualmente prohíben los vuelos supersónicos comerciales sobre tierra. 

Las principales prioridades de la NASA para cualquier misión son la seguridad y garantizar el éxito. Para Quesst, eso significa no sólo estar seguro de que el X-59 es seguro antes de volar, sino seguro a largo plazo y confiable durante la fase de pruebas comunitarias. La aeronave está siendo examinada actualmente en pruebas integradas, que deben completarse antes de que vuele. En cuanto finalice esta fase, la aeronave continuará su viaje con una revisión de preparación para el vuelo, momento en el que la NASA tiene previsto publicar un calendario más específico para el primer vuelo. 

Quesst es una misión con el potencial de revolucionar los viajes de la aviación comercial al reducir drásticamente el tiempo de viaje. Un vuelo seguro y fiable del X-59 es fundamental para que la NASA consiga esos beneficios. La agencia está comprometida con un proceso exhaustivo de revisión y pruebas que redunde en el éxito de esa misión. 

Artículo Traducido por: Elena Aguirre 

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NASA Invites You to X-59 Rollout Watch Party

It’s almost time for NASA’s supersonic X-59 airplane to make its red, white, and blue public debut, and you’re invited to join friends and family in taking a front-row, virtual VIP seat to the rollout ceremony in the California high desert.

As a historic milestone in aviation history, NASA is encouraging people across the nation and around the world to get together and celebrate the occasion by hosting a watch party to view the rollout festivities from their classrooms, homes, or anywhere else.

Although NASA won’t provide snacks and refreshments, the agency does have some ideas to help you host a successful watch party. They include printable invitations, links to STEM-related activities, and a complete X-59 Watch Party Planning Guide.

The centerpiece of NASA’s Quesst mission to study sound and help reduce the sonic boom made by supersonic flight to a sonic thump, the Lockheed Martin-built X-59 is scheduled to be rolled out from the company’s Skunk Works hangar in Palmdale, California on Jan. 12.

The X-59’s rollout ceremony will be broadcast live on the NASA+ streaming service beginning at 4 p.m. EST on Jan. 12, 2024. The event also will air live on the NASA app, YouTube, and on the agency’s website. Viewers can also learn how to stream NASA TV through a variety of platforms, including social media.

If you’re ready to commit to hosting an X-59 rollout ceremony watch party let us know and we’ll add your location to our world map, where a growing list of dozens of sites are already signed up.

All the details for signing up and more are available on our Watch Party web page. 

About the Author

Jim Banke

Managing Editor/Senior Writer

Jim Banke is a veteran aviation and aerospace communicator with more than 35 years of experience as a writer, producer, consultant, and project manager based at Cape Canaveral, Florida. He is part of NASA Aeronautics’ Strategic Communications Team and is Managing Editor for the Aeronautics topic on the NASA website.

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January’s Night Sky Notes: Connecting the ‘Dots’ with Asterisms

by Kat Troche of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific

In our December Night Sky Notes, we mentioned that the Orion constellation has a distinct hourglass shape that makes it easy to spot in the night sky. But what if we told you that this is not the complete constellation, but rather, an asterism?

An asterism is a pattern of stars in the night sky, forming shapes that make picking out constellations easy. Cultures throughout history have created these patterns as part of storytelling, honoring ancestors, and timekeeping. Orion’s hourglass is just one of many examples of this, but did you know Orion’s brightest knee is part of another asterism that spans six constellations, weaving together the Winter night sky? Many asterisms feature bright stars that are easily visible to the naked eye. Identify these key stars, and then connect the dots to reveal the shape.

Asterisms Through the Seasons

Try looking for these asterisms this season and beyond:

• Winter Circle – this asterism, also known as the Winter Hexagon, makes up a large portion of the Winter sky using stars Rigel, Aldebaran, Capella, Pollux, Procyon, and Sirius as its points. Similarly, the Winter Triangle can be found using Procyon, Sirius, and Betelgeuse as points. Orion’s Belt is also considered an asterism.
• Diamond of Virgo – this springtime asterism consists of the following stars: Arcturus, in the constellation Boötes; Cor Caroli, in Canes Venatici; Denebola in Leo, and Spica in Virgo. Sparkling at the center of this diamond is the bright cluster Coma Berenices, or Bernice’s Hair – an ancient asterism turned constellation!
• Summer Triangle – as the nights warm up, the Summer Triangle dominates the heavens. Comprising the bright stars Vega in Lyra, Deneb in Cygnus, and Altair in Aquila, this prominent asterism is the inspiration behind the cultural festival Tanabata. Also found is Cygnus the Swan, which makes up the Northern Cross asterism.
• Great Square of Pegasus – by Autumn, the Great Square of Pegasus can be seen. This square-shaped asterism takes up a large portion of the sky, and consists of the stars: Scheat, Alpheratz, Markab and Algenib.

Tracing these outlines can guide you to objects like galaxies and star clusters. The Hyades, for example, is an open star cluster in the Taurus constellation with evidence of rocky planetary debris. In 2013, Hubble Space Telescope’s Cosmic Origins Spectrograph was responsible for breaking down light into individual components. This observation detected low levels of carbon and silicon – a major chemical for planetary bodies. The Hyades can be found just outside the Winter Circle and is a favorite of both amateur and professional astronomers alike.

How to Spot Asterisms

• Use Star Maps and Star Apps – Using star maps or stargazing apps can help familiarize yourself with the constellations and asterisms of the night sky.
• Get Familiar with Constellations – Learning the major constellations and their broader shapes visible each season will make spotting asterisms easier.
• Use Celestial Landmarks –Orient yourself by using bright stars, or recognizable constellations. This will help you navigate the night sky and pinpoint specific asterisms. Vega in the Lyra constellation is a great example of this.

Learn more about how to stay warm while observing this Winter with our upcoming mid-month article on the Night Sky Network page through NASA’s website!

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