NASA's X-59 Supersonic Jet Could Take You From New York To London In Half The Time
On July 10, the 100-foot-long, 30-foot-wide X-59 demonstrated its capabilities on a runway at the US Air Force's Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, marking a significant milestone in its development, NASA said in a press release.
The successful taxi tests are the final series of trials before the X-59 takes to the skies, an event that could usher in a new era of supersonic travel, potentially halving flight times between major cities like New York and London. Imagine breakfast in New York and a mid-morning snack in London, a prospect that the X-59 aims to make a reality.
Watch the video here:
According to the space agency, the taxiing represents the X-59's last series of ground tests before its first flight. Over the coming weeks, the aircraft will gradually increase its speed, leading up to a high-speed taxi test that will take the aircraft just short of the point where it would take off.
During the low-speed tests, engineers and flight crews monitored how the X-59 handled as it moved across the runway, working to validate critical systems like steering and braking. These checks help ensure the aircraft's stability and control across a range of conditions, giving pilots and engineers confidence that all systems are functioning as expected.
The X-59 is the centrepiece of NASA's Quesst mission, which aims to demonstrate quiet supersonic flight by reducing the loud sonic boom to a quieter "thump." Data gathered from the X-59 will be shared with U.S. and international regulators to inform the establishment of new, data-driven acceptable noise thresholds related to supersonic commercial flight over land.
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The Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to retire the remaining Russian-origin MiG-21 fleet in a ceremonial decommissioning on September 19 at the Chandigarh airbase. 2. There are five squadrons of the MiG-21 Bisons currently active. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Explanation — After protecting the Indian skies through all major conflicts over more than six decades, the legendary MiG-21 fighter jets are set to retire in September. — The Indian Air Force (IAF) will ceremonially decommission the last Russian-origin MiG-21 fleet on September 19 at the Chandigarh airport. Hence, statement 1 is correct. — Two squadrons of MiG-21 Bisons are currently operational. 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Statement II : The James Webb Space Telescope has detected carbon dioxide and crystalline water ice on Europa's surface, indicating recent exposure of subsurface ocean material. Which one of the following is correct? (a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I (b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I (c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect (d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct Explanation — Europa is widely regarded as one of the most promising places in our solar system to search for signs of life due to its subsurface ocean and signs of active geology. Hence, statement 1 is correct. — James Webb Space Telescope observations confirmed the presence of crystalline water ice, carbon dioxide, and sodium chloride on Europa's surface—especially in areas like Tara Regio—suggesting that material from the subsurface ocean is reaching the surface. Hence, statement 2 is correct. — These findings support the idea that Europa may have the chemical and physical conditions necessary for life, making the Statement II a correct explanation for the Statement I. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer. CoinDCX, recently in the news, is related to: (a) A government digital payment initiative (b) A space-tech startup collaborating with ISRO (c) A cryptocurrency exchange that suffered a major hack (d) A fintech app launched by RBI for rural banking Explanation — CoinDCX, Mumbai‑based crypto exchange, lost US $44.2 million from an internal operational wallet hack on July 19, 2025, discovered 17 hours later by blockchain investigator ZachXBT. — It marks India's second major crypto hack in one year, reinforcing the urgency for stronger cybersecurity protocols and regulatory standards in the digital asset domain. Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer. With reference to the NASA's sounding-rocket mission, consider the following statements: 1. The instrument SNIFS is designed to study the Sun's chromosphere, which lies between the photosphere and the corona. 2. SNIFS will capture 3D spectroscopic data, obtaining a full spectrum for each pixel in view. 3. The mission will measure the hydrogen Lyman‑α spectral line, a key diagnostic tool for chromospheric conditions. 4. SNIFS is an orbital satellite mission scheduled to operate for several years. Which of the statements given above are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1, 2 and 3 only (c) 2, 3 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 Explanation — SNIFS (Solar EruptioN Integral Field Spectrograph) will study the chromosphere, the dynamic layer sandwiched between the Sun's visible surface (photosphere) and the outer corona. Hence, statement 1 is correct. — It is the first ultraviolet integral field spectrograph to fly for solar study, providing 3D data sets where each pixel carries its own spectrum. Hence, statement 2 is correct. — SNIFS targets the Lyman-α spectral line of hydrogen, the brightest line in the solar ultraviolet spectrum, crucial for diagnosing chromospheric temperature, velocity, and density. Hence, statement 3 is correct. — SNIFS is a suborbital sounding‑rocket experiment, not a satellite mission; it will operate for under 10 minutes, not years. Hence, statement 4 is not correct. Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer. Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 118) Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 120) Daily subject-wise quiz — Science and Technology (Week 119) Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 119) Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 119) Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 119) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. Manas Srivastava is currently working as Senior Copy Editor with The Indian Express (digital) and leads a unique initiative of IE - UPSC Essentials. He majorly writes on UPSC, other competitive exams and education-related projects. In the past, Manas has represented India at the G-20 Youth Summit in Mexico. He is a former member of the Youth Council, GOI. A two-time topper/gold medallist in History (both in graduation and post-graduation) from Delhi University, he has mentored and taught UPSC aspirants for more than five years. His diverse role in The Indian Express consists of writing, editing, anchoring/ hosting, interviewing experts, and curating and simplifying news for the benefit of students. He hosts the YouTube talk show called 'Art and Culture with Devdutt Pattanaik' and a LIVE series on Instagram and YouTube called 'LIVE with Manas'.His talks on 'How to read a newspaper' focus on newspaper reading as an essential habit for students. His articles and videos aim at finding solutions to the general queries of students and hence he believes in being students' editor, preparing them not just for any exam but helping them to become informed citizens. This is where he makes his teaching profession meet journalism. He is also the editor of UPSC Essentials' monthly magazine for the aspirants. He is a recipient of the Dip Chand Memorial Award, the Lala Ram Mohan Prize and Prof. Papiya Ghosh Memorial Prize for academic excellence. He was also awarded the University's Post-Graduate Scholarship for pursuing M.A. in History where he chose to specialise in Ancient India due to his keen interest in Archaeology. He has also successfully completed a Certificate course on Women's Studies by the Women's Studies Development Centre, DU. As a part of N.S.S in the past, Manas has worked with national and international organisations and has shown keen interest and active participation in Social Service. He has led and been a part of projects involving areas such as gender sensitisation, persons with disability, helping slum dwellers, environment, adopting our heritage programme. He has also presented a case study on 'Psychological stress among students' at ICSQCC- Sri Lanka. As a compere for seminars and other events he likes to keep his orating hobby alive. His interests also lie in International Relations, Governance, Social issues, Essays and poetry. ... Read More
