Date: Nov. 10 at 1 p.m. EST

Audience: Grades 5-8

Summary: NASA's first purpose-built, supersonic X-plane in decades will soon take to the skies. Objects moving at supersonic speeds are going faster than the speed of sound. For this vehicle, the design research speed will be Mach 1.4, or 925 mph, flying at 55,000 feet. That's 10,000-20,000 feet higher than commercial airplanes and 300-400 mph faster! That means this X-plane could travel from New York to Los Angeles in less than 2.5 hours. Learn how NASA will use the experimental X-59 to provide data that could change the rules that ban supersonic flight over land by proving a sonic boom can be reduced to a barely-audible sonic thump heard on the ground! Join us as we begin to take flight and hear from an aerospace engineer working on the X-59 mission. NASA’s Next Gen STEM (NGS) will select up to three middle school groups to actively engage during this event on Nov. 10 at 1 p.m. ET; all other applicants will be invited to attend as spectators with an opportunity to submit questions in the chat. During this unforgettable interactive event, students will learn about NASA missions and research and ask questions of a NASA expert. Upon completion of the virtual connection, students will be challenged to complete a hands-on activity. The educators will then share the students’ solutions to NASA through the NASA CONNECTS community of practice. Registration does not guarantee selection to participate in this event. Please include the anticipated number of students and educators in your application.