NASA 的靜音超音速噴射機被迫縮短飛行任務
NASA’s quiet supersonic jet forced to cut flight short
美國航空暨太空總署（NASA）的X-59是一款具備開創性（ㄎㄞㄎㄨㄞˋㄔㄨㄤˋㄒㄧㄥˋ）的實驗飛機，綽號為「Quesst」，最近達成了一項新的里程碑。
NASA's X-59, the groundbreaking experimental aircraft nicknamed "Quesst," recently reached a new milestone.
於2026年3月20日，它在愛德華空軍基地起飛後，完成了第二次試飛。
On March 20, 2026, it completed its second test flight after taking off from Edwards Air Force Base.
儘管原訂飛行時間為一小時，但駕駛艙發出的警告迫使飛行員Jim "Clue" Less在短短九分鐘後即提前結束任務。
While the flight was planned to last an hour, a cockpit warning forced pilot Jim "Clue" Less to cut the mission short at just nine minutes.
X-59的設計旨在透過以細微的「砰」聲（ㄊㄨㄥˋ）取代傳統超音速噴射機那巨大且擾人的「音爆」（ㄧㄣㄅㄠˋ），進而改寫航空史。
The X-59 is designed to change aviation history by replacing the loud, disruptive "sonic boom" of traditional supersonic jets with a subtle "thump."
其獨特且細長的機身設計能分散衝擊波，有望使人類首次實現陸地上空的超音速旅行。
Its unique, elongated design disperses shockwaves, potentially allowing supersonic travel over land for the first time.
由於機鼻過長，該機缺乏傳統擋風玻璃，而是依賴一套攝影機組成的「外部視覺系統」（eXternal Vision System）。
Because of its long nose, the plane lacks a traditional windscreen, relying instead on an "eXternal Vision System" of cameras.
X-59與洛克希德馬丁（Lockheed Martin）共同開發，是「包絡線擴展」（envelope expansion）計畫的一環，技術人員會在該計畫中逐步測試其性能。
Developed with Lockheed Martin, the X-59 is part of an "envelope expansion" program where technicians incrementally test performance.
目前飛機已回廠進行檢查，但該任務仍是NASA實現縮短長途旅行（例如紐約到洛杉磯）時間至三小時內的核心目標。
While currently back in the hangar for inspection, the mission remains a cornerstone of NASA's goal to make long-distance travel, such as New York to Los Angeles, take under three hours.
