Core Points - NASA's X-59 quiet supersonic aircraft successfully completed its first test flight on October 28, 2023, after several years of delays [3][4] - The X-59 is designed to break the sound barrier with a "gentle thump" instead of a loud sonic boom, aiming to pave the way for future commercial supersonic flights [3][4] - The aircraft, developed by Lockheed Martin, is expected to cruise at an altitude of 55,000 feet (16,764 meters), nearly double that of conventional airliners [3][4] - The initial test flight was conducted at a speed of 240 miles per hour (approximately 386 kilometers per hour) at a lower altitude, with future goals to reach 925 miles per hour (approximately 1,489 kilometers per hour) over land [3][4] - In 1973, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) banned supersonic flight over land due to disruptive sonic booms, but this ban was lifted by an executive order in June 2023 [3][4]