But while the successful test flight of XB-1 shows that supersonic flight without sonic booms is technically feasible, the next phase is making it economically feasible. Right now, both subsonic and sonic boom-producing supersonic travel are cheaper than using this Mach cutoff method.

It is often said that a picture is worth a thousand words, and a recent photo released by NASA in conjunction with Boom Supersonic shows just how remarkable capturing a moment can be. Boom Supersonic is currently building the world’s fastest airliner,

In a stunning, glowing image, NASA has captured the moment that Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 demonstrator broke the sound barrier during tests last month.