During a recent test by NASA, a new visual navigation system was put to the test. The system, the Airborne Location Integrating Geospatial Navigation System (ALIGNS), was designed to enhance the precise aerial positioning between two military aircraft while in supersonic flight.

FOLLOW HERE: Hot Cars Official On Twitter

Designed For The X-59 Quiet Supersonic Aircraft

The system was developed in preparation for future acoustic validation flights to be made by the X-59 Quiet Supersonic Technology aircraft. Designed to reduce the infamous sonic boom that is typically heard from the ground when an aircraft hit supersonic speeds, the technology reduces the boom to a quiet thump. Starting in 2024, the technology will be demonstrated by having the X-plane fly over communities. Prior to that, NASA will have to go through a validation phase with regard to the X-plane’s acoustic signature, using a ground recording system.

RELATED: Every Strategic Bomber In Service Or Development In The World Today

The X-59’s Acoustic Signature Will Need To Be Validated

Photo: YouTube screenshot (NASA)

A team at the NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California will work to validate the X-59’s acoustic signature by both measuring and visualizing its shock waves. The waves of pressure are produced by the aircraft as it flies faster than the speed of sound, which are heard as sonic booms.

Chase aircraft, flying in exact positions relative to the X-59 at supersonic speed, will be used to get accurate measurements of its unique shock waves. By using a shock-sensing probe mounted to the nose of an F-15, the X-59’s shock waves will be recorded, but the F-15 will need to be in and out of its shock waves at precise distances throughout the process.

Acoustic Validation Includes Shock Wave Visualization

Photo: YouTube screenshot (NASA)

Using a photographic technique known as Schlieren photography, NASA will capture imagery of the shock waves from the supersonic aircraft as part of the acoustic validation phase. This method of shock wave visualization is a critical requirement in confirming that the X-59’s shock wave actually travels through the air as predicted.

The challenging part is that the F-15 aircraft, mounted with the special camera system, will need to maneuver to capture the images. The precise location that places the X-59 within the frame from a moderate distance, directly in front of the sun is necessary as both aircraft will be flying at supersonic speeds.

“ALIGNS is software that is designed to create a virtual point on the shock wave that is produced from the target aircraft. The pilots will get directional cues on the ALIGNS display to help them steer the F-15 to that specific point in space,” said ALIGNS Principal Investigator Troy Robillos.

“For our initial flights, we used the ALIGNS tablet to show our pilots where to steer the F-15. ALIGNS shows the horizontal, vertical, fore, and aft offsets in relation to a point on the F-18 shockwave.”

“ALIGNS is absolutely going to help us get this done,” says NASA test pilot Jim ‘Clue’ Less. “We’ve flight tested it, we’re going to continue to make it better, and we’ll be ready.”

QUOTE SOURCE: NASA

NEXT: Watch A Mustang Weave Through Highway Traffic Before Wrecking Itself On TeslaCam