Boom Supersonic independently designed and built the XB-1, the first civil supersonic jet in America. The XB-1's first supersonic flight last month was a success, breaking the sound barrier above the Mojave Desert while producing a sonic boom that was inaudible from the ground.

Despite all these technological advances, a supersonic aircraft still cannot beat physics. Shock waves, and their associated drag, will still exist. So, a single supersonic aircraft will still produce considerably more carbon emissions than its subsonic counterpart.

NASA is pushing the boundaries of supersonic travel with its experimental X-59 jet, a sleek, needle-shaped aircraft designed to fly faster than sound—without the disruptive sonic boom. The agency recently completed crucial engine performance tests,