NASA Photo Captures Sound Barrier Being Broken (cnn.com)
(Monday March 03, 2025 @10:30PM (BeauHD)
from the photos-that-speak-volumes dept.)
- Reference: 0176604451
- News link: https://science.slashdot.org/story/25/03/03/2346245/nasa-photo-captures-sound-barrier-being-broken
- Source link: https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/03/travel/boom-supersonic-nasa-photo-sound-barrier-broken/index.html
NASA used specialized Schlieren photography to [1]capture an image of Boom Supersonic's XB-1 demonstrator aircraft breaking the sound barrier on February 10, 2025 and producing shock waves as it exceeded Mach 1. The flight produced [2]no audible sonic boom , marking progress toward the goal of quiet supersonic travel. CNN reports:
> "This image makes the invisible visible," said Blake Scholl, founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic, in a [3]press release . In order to capture the Schlieren images, Boom chief test pilot Tristan "Geppetto" Brandenburg positioned XB-1 at an exact time in a precise location over the Mojave Desert.
>
> As the aircraft flew in front of the sun, NASA's team documented the changing air speeds as speeds over Mach 1, the speed of sound (761.23 miles per hour or 1,225.1 kilometers per hour). The images were captured during ground telescopes with special filters that detect air distortions.
You can view the photo [4]here .
[1] https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/03/travel/boom-supersonic-nasa-photo-sound-barrier-broken/index.html
[2] https://tech.slashdot.org/story/25/01/28/2146222/boom-supersonic-xb-1-breaks-sound-barrier-during-historic-test-flight
[3] https://boomsupersonic.com/press-release/boom-supersonic-partners-with-nasa-to-capture-iconic-image-of-civil-supersonic-flight
[4] https://boomsupersonic.com/press-release/boom-supersonic-partners-with-nasa-to-capture-iconic-image-of-civil-supersonic-flight
> "This image makes the invisible visible," said Blake Scholl, founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic, in a [3]press release . In order to capture the Schlieren images, Boom chief test pilot Tristan "Geppetto" Brandenburg positioned XB-1 at an exact time in a precise location over the Mojave Desert.
>
> As the aircraft flew in front of the sun, NASA's team documented the changing air speeds as speeds over Mach 1, the speed of sound (761.23 miles per hour or 1,225.1 kilometers per hour). The images were captured during ground telescopes with special filters that detect air distortions.
You can view the photo [4]here .
[1] https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/03/travel/boom-supersonic-nasa-photo-sound-barrier-broken/index.html
[2] https://tech.slashdot.org/story/25/01/28/2146222/boom-supersonic-xb-1-breaks-sound-barrier-during-historic-test-flight
[3] https://boomsupersonic.com/press-release/boom-supersonic-partners-with-nasa-to-capture-iconic-image-of-civil-supersonic-flight
[4] https://boomsupersonic.com/press-release/boom-supersonic-partners-with-nasa-to-capture-iconic-image-of-civil-supersonic-flight
Maybe I'm confused (Score:2)
There is and was all kinds of supersonic military aircraft, and the Concord, and whatever the Russian version of that was. Nobody thought to *ever* do this type of photography up until this exact point in time?
Re: Maybe I'm confused (Score:1)
You're supposed to cheer for the pretty picture, not ask questions.
Re: (Score:3)
usually in wind tunnels, since it's tricky when you don't have control over the light source, but yes, Schlieren photography has been done before [1]https://www.google.com/search?... [google.com]
[1] https://www.google.com/search?q=schlieren+photography+supersonic
Re:Maybe I'm confused (Score:4, Interesting)
Historically, nobody really NEEDED to take a perfect photo of it. Did you hear the boom? Cool it must have happened. This aircraft is the only one making that kind of pressure differential that can't be measured by ground based seismic detectors.
Lots of photos of shockwaves exist, but none directly in line with the sun to get that level of primary light source. Virtually invisible in clear air with a blue background. Sure sometimes one can see a stationary vapor cloud due to pressure differentials but that isn't quite as useful after about 15 feet or so. Photographed against a terrain backdrop, naturally the gound would have a lot of variation as well as significantly lower light levels.
Honestly I think this is a good idea. Glad somebody thought of it.
Re: (Score:2)
in other words, this is a different kind of supersonic jet. the sound waves are different, it seems.
Re: Maybe I'm confused (Score:1)
Not on a full-scale plane at speed. But you can take pretty pictures in the lab.
[1]https://i.etsystatic.com/14054... [etsystatic.com]
[1] https://i.etsystatic.com/14054026/r/il/b7c6c6/4472144318/il_1140xN.4472144318_t54d.jpg
Re: (Score:2)
The main problem with them was they produce an audible sonic boom. Here we've got additional confirmation that, in fact, the sound barrier was broken, and there was no audible sonic boom from the ground.
The French and UK governments never did a proper analysis to determine if the concorde would be economically viable, so the whole thing just ended up being a public works project that never had a realistic chance of succeeding.
Re: (Score:2)
Of course they did. How do you think they knew how to do this kind of photography? Scott Manley did a good video on it and showed the difference between the shock waves in a schlieren photograph of a conventional supersonic aircraft vs this prototype demonstrator. [1]https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com] The pictures he has our way cooler than the one in the article. Also explains why the sonic boom is quieter and doesn't always hit the ground with this special design.
[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CM5lbIzH2kc