{
  "id": 18311028,
  "title": "NASA announces experimental X-70 Fractal aircraft: A 'new beginning for aeronautics'",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/nasa-announces-experimental-x-70-fractal-aircraft-a-new-beginning-for",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-11-05T13:33:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Space.com",
    "slug": "space-com",
    "url": "https://www.space.com/technology/aerospace/nasa-announces-experimental-x-70-fractal-aircraft-a-new-beginning-for-aeronautics"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "NASA has unveiled an image of its next experimental aircraft, the X-70 Fractal, during a press release on November 4. This new X-plane is described as a highly maneuverable test bed with rapidly reconfigurable flight-control technology, allowing NASA to swap its components easily. The agency's statement highlighted that the X-70 Fractal will give NASA a crewed, high-performance platform to test advanced flight-control and maneuverability technologies in real flight. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman called the X-70 Fractal \"just one part of this new beginning for aeronautics\" and announced that the aircraft will make its first flight within two years.\n\nThe X-70 Fractal will cruise at Mach 0.75, fly up to 45,000 feet, and have a range exceeding 1,726 miles. It will carry around 2,000 pounds of experimental payloads internally and externally, enabling various research and flight-testing opportunities. The aircraft will weigh 10,000 pounds, similar to the Model 437 Vanguard experimental aircraft. The X-70 Fractal's tail fins resemble those of the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor or Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet, although the final form of the aircraft remains uncertain.\n\nNASA's X-70 Fractal joins other experimental aircraft projects, such as Boom Supersonic's X-1 and Boeing's F-47, which both aim to develop technologies to reduce the impact of sonic booms.",
  "summary": "NASA has announced its next X-plane, known as the X-70 Fractal, designed to test advanced maneuverability and which will feature a rapidly reconfigurable design.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "NASA",
        "title": "NASA Announces X-70 Experimental Aircraft to Advance Flight Research",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/nasa-announces-x-70-experimental-aircraft-to-advance-flight-research",
        "published": "2026-11-05T01:43:21.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Slashdot",
        "title": "NASA Announces X-70 Experimental Aircraft to Advance Flight Research",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/nasa-announces-x-70-experimental-aircraft-to-advance-flight-research-18295847",
        "published": "2026-11-05T11:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}