NASA’s initial steps are now underway in the development of an electrically powered X-57 plane. The first steps saw US-based space agency perform computer simulations which help to accurately model how an electric-powered propulsion system could perform mid-flight. Specifically, NASA focused on the X-57’s rightmost propeller – and will have to go through all the facets before any crew can safely be placed on board.
However, initial results look promising as NASA edges a step closer to creating the world’s first electric plane, which would be powered by 14 electric motors.
Much like NASA’s previous X-planes – of which there are more than 60 despite the X-57 name – it will not be made for commercial use, but the technology is bound to spill over into the public sector.
While NASA has not given a date as to when the X-57 might be fully operational, it has now been in design for more than two years.
The space agency said: “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.
“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.
“In order to understand the aerodynamic effects of this design, a team of engineers from three NASA centers – Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley, Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, and Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California – is using supercomputers to simulate flight conditions for the X-57.
“The moment simulated here is from the cruise phase of flight, with pressure shown on the aircraft surface (maroon: high pressure, dark blue: low pressure) and streamwise velocity, or the speed and direction of air flowing toward the aircraft, near the X-57’s rightmost propeller (top left of image; red: high velocity, green/blue: lower velocities).
“These simulations help the team analyse the aircraft’s stability and its ability to stay in flight and change direction and will also allow them to create an accurate computer model of aerodynamic performance to incorporate into the X-57 flight simulator.
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“By accurately predicting the impacts of the X-57’s propulsion system, the aerodynamic model ensures that its flight simulator performs in a manner consistent with actual flight and lets pilots test emergency scenarios and safe recovery measures.
“Run on the Pleiades supercomputer at the NASA Advanced Supercomputing facility at Ames, the simulations are helping take the next step toward a cleaner way to fly.”
Last year, NASA announced it was putting the final touches on its new hypersonic plane dubbed the ‘Son of Concorde’ which can go as fast as the British-French airliner, but without the noise.
Along with Lockheed Martin, NASA is constructing the highly anticipated the X-59 Quiet Supersonic Technology (QueSST) aircraft, known as the “son of Concorde”.
The supersonic jet will be able to travel at an altitude of 55,000 feet and at a speed of about 940mph – breaking the sound barrier in the process – and able to travel from London to New York in just three hours.
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The jet will be able to reach such speeds, without the noise produced by Concorde.
One of the reasons the Concorde failed was partly because the sonic boom it created when it broke the sound barrier caused distress among livestock and minor damages to buildings.
This led to Concorde being banned to fly over the mainland US, which was a massive contribution to the airline going bust in 2003. However, the X-59 may have solved the issue.
NASA said: “The X-59 is shaped to reduce the loudness of a sonic boom reaching the ground to that of a gentle thump, if it is heard at all.”