In July, Lockheed Martin completed the build of NASA’s X-59 test aircraft, which is designed to turn sonic booms into mere thumps, in the hope of making overland supersonic flight a possibility. Ground tests and a first test flight are planned for later in the year. NASA aims to have enough data to hand over to US regulators in 2027.

  • AnAngryAlpaca@feddit.de
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    2
    ·
    1 year ago

    Still, someone has to finance it. In the worst case you have a high speed rail network with high operationg costs that nobody uses, but taxpayers still need to maintain.

    • NattyNatty2x4@beehaw.org
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      7
      ·
      1 year ago

      I swear if firefighting wasn’t currently publicly funded, you’d argue against making it publicly funded because it might not be profitable

    • max@feddit.nl
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      4
      ·
      1 year ago

      If it’s there (and not terrible), people will use it. Will it break even on the costs? Maybe. Maybe not. Still worth it, however.