X-59 gets an addition to the NASA X Family
X-70 joins the NASA X Plane family not to replace but in addition to the X-59.
“The X-70 Fractal gives NASA a crewed, high-performance platform to test advanced flight-control, maneuverability, and other cutting-edge technologies in real flight.” — NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman
Yesterday, November 4th NASA introduced the newest to their X plane lineup the X-70 Fractal at the UP.Summit at Kennedy Space Center. NASA Administrator Jared Issacman said "We expect her first flight under the NASA banner within two years". While This does leave some room for other flights it is unclear if its first flight will be "under NASA banner" or not. This airframe will according to NASA be a crewed, reconfigurable flight control technology to be able to research experiments at mach 0.75. The purpose of this will to be test experiments and it will be able to have research swapped out fairly rapidly, how rapid is currently unclear and that will come as this air frame is developed over time.
Vehicle Specifications
According to NASA the aircraft will be able to accommodate 2,000 pounds of experimental payloads relying on both internal and external locations to encourage a wide range of research applications. The takeoff weight is 10,000 pounds with a cruising altitude of up to 45,000 feet with an operational range of 1726 miles (1500 nautical miles). These qualities will make it one of the most unique and flexible research tools that NASA will have to influence aerospace and aeronautical advancment!
Role in the X Fleet
The X-70 isn't designed to take the place of the X-59, they serve different purposes as the X-59 is designed to serve as a quiet supersonic aircraft to work on how to minimize the sonic boom when going supersonic. The X-70 is designed to test technologies and experiments while flying significant range and altitude at a subsonic speed. As we approach MaxPower air expo and show at Kennedy Space Center this weekend, it is yet to be seen if there will be a prototype, design concept or only imagery displayed for the media and public to see.
The question remains.... when will it fly and will it first fly for NASA?? Stay tuned as we will learn more in coming days, months and years.
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