NASA Says Supersonic Passenger Plane Could Get You From NYC To London In Less Than 2 Hours

NASA is exploring the idea of a passenger jet that could theoretically fly from New York City to London “four times faster” than today’s planes.

In a recent news release about NASA’s research on supersonic commercial travel, the agency said the passenger jet would theoretically travel between Mach 2 and Mach 4 speeds—two to four times the speed of sound, or 1,535 at sea level— Between 3,045 mph. , By comparison, today’s large passenger planes travel at about 600 mph, or about 80% the speed of sound, NASA said.

The agency also concluded that there are about 50 established routes connecting the cities to potential passenger markets.

As the US and other countries ban supersonic flight over land, NASA said it is considering transoceanic routes across the Atlantic and Pacific.

Concept illustration of the Boeing high-supersonic commercial passenger aircraft. Boeing / NASA.gov

The development comes as the agency is conducting another research mission called Quest, involving NASA’s X-59 “quiet supersonic aircraft”. In an effort to persuade regulators to change supersonic flight rules, Quest explores technology that “reduces the intensity of sound to people on the ground, down to the faintest thud”.

“These new studies will refresh the technology roadmap and identify additional research needs for a wider high-speed range,” said project manager Lori Ozorowski.

NASA has issued a two-year contract to companies to develop a concept design and technology roadmap that will include outlining the risks and challenges in making Mach 2+ travel possible. Boeing will lead the first team; Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems will lead the other.

“It is important to innovate responsibly so that we can return benefits to passengers and do no harm to the environment,” Mary Jo Long-Davis, NASA’s hypersonic technology project manager, said in a statement.