NASA readies the X-59 for its first supersonic flight, SpaceX's Starship grounded and more science stories

NASA/Jim Ross

This week, NASA shared much accusation astir its planned satellite guidelines missions, Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket exploded connected nan launchpad and nan James Webb Space Telescope spotted a supermassive achromatic spread that researchers opportunity "may person formed wrong nan first 2nd aft nan large bang." But first, we person updates connected NASA's X-59 quiet supersonic investigation level and SpaceX's Starship pursuing past week's trial flight. Catch up present connected this week's subject news.

Key trial flights attack for NASA's quiet supersonic plane

Over nan past decade, NASA has been processing an craft that could 1 time scope supersonic speeds — aliases recreation faster than nan velocity of sound — without producing nan thunderous sonic booms typically associated pinch this feat. The plane, called nan X-59, took its first ever formation backmost successful October and has conducted respective much successful nan months since. Now, NASA says it's fresh to spell supersonic. The X-59 is scheduled to return its first supersonic flight, hitting complete 630 mph astatine an altitude of astir 43,000 feet, successful early June, according to nan abstraction agency.

Then, successful a followup "mission conditions" test, it will scope 925 mph (Mach 1.4) astatine astir 55,000 feet. After that, it'll spell for its max speed: Mach 1.6, aliases 1,218 mph, astatine an altitude of 60,000 feet. NASA isn't fresh to show disconnected nan X-59's quiet supersonic capabilities yet, though. For this shape of testing, NASA noted successful a blog post, "The X-59 will beryllium accompanied by a accepted supersonic pursuit plane, truthful immoderate quiet listen it produces successful nan existent shape of testing will beryllium obscured by louder, accepted sonic booms from nan chase."

FAA grounds Starship aft 'mishap'

SpaceX's Starship V3 launched for nan first time past week successful a trial formation that achieved overmuch of what nan institution group retired to do. But, it wasn't wholly without hiccups, and nan Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has since ordered a region connected Starship flights while it investigates what went incorrect and prevented nan Super Heavy booster from making a soft splashdown arsenic intended.

The rumor arose aft Starship separated from Super Heavy. "Following shape separation, nan Super Heavy booster performed a directional flip maneuver and attempted its boostback burn," SpaceX explained successful a blog station pursuing nan launch. "It was incapable to ray each planned engines and performed a partial boostback pain that ended early. Super Heavy attempted to reignite its engines for nan landing pain earlier experiencing a difficult splashdown successful nan Gulf of America." Starship went connected to complete its travel and splashed down astatine nan planned tract successful nan Indian Ocean.

Liftoff of Starship! pic.twitter.com/LQLdjK5V6K

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 22, 2026

"After a thorough appraisal of nan operation, nan FAA has wished nan May 22 SpaceX Starship Flight 12 motorboat resulted successful a mishap," nan agency said successful a connection released this week. "The mishap progressive nan Super Heavy booster arsenic it flew backmost to nan Gulf of America aft shape separation. There are nary reports of nationalist wounded aliases harm to nationalist property." It added, "The FAA is requiring SpaceX to behaviour a mishap investigation. The FAA will oversee nan SpaceX-led investigation, beryllium progressive successful each measurement of nan process, and o.k. SpaceX's last report, including immoderate corrective actions."

It's not an uncommon move connected nan FAA's part, and SpaceX has faced respective specified groundings complete nan years, galore of which person been wrapped up reasonably quickly. It apt won't beryllium very agelong earlier we spot Starship backmost successful action. "A return to formation of nan Starship-Super Heavy conveyance is based connected nan FAA determining that immoderate system, process, aliases process related to nan mishap does not impact nationalist safety," nan FAA noted successful its statement.

The FAA grounded SpaceX competitor Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket past month pursuing its 3rd mission, and it was conscionable cleared earlier this week to resume flights. But, during a hotfire trial connected Friday, New Glenn exploded connected nan motorboat pad astatine Cape Canaveral. You tin publication much astir that below.

Before you go, beryllium judge to cheque retired these stories too:

• NASA plans for up to 3 much lunar missions earlier nan extremity of 2026

• Blue Origin cleared to motorboat New Glenn rocket again aft FAA investigation

• Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket explodes connected its launchpad

• James Webb scope spots supermassive achromatic spread that formed earlier its galaxy