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NASA has its sights on joining other companies in becoming more sustainable in an effort to be more environmentally-friendly. The agency has announced that it is in the midst of developing what would potentially be the world’s first electrically-powered aircraft.
Express reports that NASA is already in the first stages of development of what would be the first electric X-57 aircraft. The first stages involved running simulations that could serve as a model for how an electricity-powered propulsion system would be able to work as the X-57 plane would run on 14 electric motors. The agency especially focused on the X-57’s right propeller, running it through many simulations and tests before NASA could place a flight crew onboard the aircraft. The results so far have shown some promise.
Like NASA’s previous X-planes, the X-57 will not be made for commercial use, but the technology will certainly spread to the public. NASA has yet to announce when the X-57 will be fully completed and operational.
“Compared with conventional aircraft, the X-57 team has set a goal of using five times less energy and -- if powered by electricity generated from renewable sources -- producing zero inflight carbon emissions,” said NASA. “The X-57’s unique propulsion system, in its final configuration, features 14 battery-powered electric motors and propellers: 12 to provide lift during takeoff and landing, and one at the tip of each wing to provide forward thrust during flight.”
Aside from the X-57, NASA is also in the process of constructing the X-59 Quiet Supersonic Technology aircraft also known as the “son of Concorde” This aircraft is said to be able to travel at an altitude of 55,000 at a speed of 940 miles per hour.
Previously, the agency’s astronomers are actively monitoring one particularly weaker portion of the Earth’s magnetic field. NASA is keeping an eye on the South Atlantic Anomaly, the weaker part of the magnetosphere that spans from Chile to Zimbabwe. The agency’s active monitoring of the SAA comes as scientists fear that the dent would split the Earth’s magnetic field into two.
Fortunately, NASA has revealed that the SAA has not had a negative impact on daily life, but the latest observations found that the anomaly is moving westward.
