Where will the X-59's thump land today?
How wide the strip of ground is where NASA's quiet supersonic jet would be heard, in the next 48 hours over NASA Armstrong, California.
Carpet width, next 48 hours
Why the carpet changes from day to day Warm air near the ground and wind bend the boom back up.
The boom leaves the jet on a cone. Straight below, it always reaches the ground. Off to the sides it travels at a slant, and the warmer air near the ground bends it upward; far enough out it turns around before it lands. That turning point is the edge of the carpet. A hot afternoon or flying into a strong wind narrows it; cold air and a tailwind widen it.
How it is worked out Today's GFS column over Edwards, eight directions, every 6 hours.
Sound rays leave the Mach cone of a jet in level flight at Mach 1.4 and 55,000 ft and are traced through the NOAA GFS temperature and wind above Edwards for each forecast time. The farthest ray that still reaches the ground on each side sets the carpet edge. The same ray tracer forecasts rocket and fireball booms on this site.
Limits Where it is heard, not how loud; not NASA's plan.
- It gives the edges of the carpet, not the loudness: the X-59's shaped signature needs NASA's own data. Near the edges the thump is weakest.
- The ground is taken at sea level and the air is one column for the whole area; hills and the desert floor's height move the edges a little.
- Independent research tool, not affiliated with NASA. Test routes, dates and towns are NASA's to announce.
Data: NOAA GFS. X-59 design values: NASA Quesst. Method and code: engine/x59.py. Privacy.