NASA unveils mysterious X-70 Fractal experimental aircraft with AI image

NASA has officially announced a new experimental aircraft, the X-70 Fractal, aimed at expanding the agency's fleet of research X-planes. The announcement was made by NASA administrator Jared Isaacman during the UP.Summit held at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on November 4.

• NASA announced the new crewed experimental aircraft named X-70 Fractal.
• The aircraft is designed to cruise at Mach 0.75 up to an altitude of 45,000 feet.
• The press release featured an apparently AI-generated image of a smoke-obscured jet.
• The new experimental plane could potentially take its first flight within two years.

Design and Specifications of the X-70 Fractal According to the agency, the X-70 Fractal provides a crewed, high-performance platform to test advanced flight-control and maneuverability technologies in actual flight conditions. Its modular design allows teams to rapidly swap internal and external experimental payloads. The aircraft features a takeoff weight of 10,000 pounds, a design capacity for up to 2,000 pounds of payloads, and an operational range exceeding 1,726 miles.

Mystery Surrounding the Announcement and Development The announcement drew attention due to the press release utilizing what appeared to be an AI-generated image showing a dark silhouette obscured by smoke, reminiscent of a military fighter. NASA has not yet disclosed a specific aircraft manufacturer partnering on the project. Nonetheless, Isaacman indicated that the X-plane could fly within two years, with another aviation announcement anticipated shortly after.

Broader Context of NASA's X-Plane Portfolio This development comes amid a broader push by NASA to rebuild its X-plane portfolio, which recently included hints regarding Cold War-era SR-71 surveillance aircraft rumors. Meanwhile, the space agency continues flight testing for its landmark X-59 Quesst supersonic jet designed by Lockheed Martin to minimize sonic booms, having recently completed successful supersonic runs and cross-country transit flights across the United States.