NASA announces experimental X-70 Fractal aircraft: A 'new beginning for aeronautics'

NASA has revealed a glimpse of its next X-plane, known as the X-70 Fractal. Or at least what it thinks the X-70 will look like once built. The agency released a short statement on Wednesday (Nov. 4) announcing the X-plane , or experimental plane, declaring it to be a highly maneuverable test bed with a "rapidly reconfigurable flight-control technology," allo

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  1. Modular Architecture and Flight Control: The X-70 Fractal utilizes a modular design to enable 'rapidly reconfigurable flight-control technology.' This capability allows researchers to swap both internal and external components on-the-fly, creating a versatile platform to test maneuverability in ways previously undemonstrated in crewed flight.
  2. Performance Specifications and Mission Scope: The X-70 is intended to operate as a high-performance research platform with a takeoff weight of 10,000 pounds (4,535 kg) and a cruise speed of Mach 0.75. It is designed to reach altitudes of 45,000 feet, exceed a range of 1,726 miles, and accommodate 2,000 pounds of experimental payload.

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