Can a Sonic Boom Be Quiet? - Aaron Vaughn | Research Aerospace Engineer - NASA Langley Research Center

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Can supersonic flight—and the sonic booms it produces—be quiet enough for overland travel? How can we guide and equip the commercial sector to ensure that the next generation of supersonic jets and eVTOLs are quiet enough to thrive without contributing to environmental noise?

In this episode, we sit down with Aaron Vaughn, a Research Aerospace Engineer in NASA’s Applied Acoustics Branch at the Langley Research Center, to explore these questions and more.

Aaron invites us into the world of auralization, simulation, and human response data—all essential tools for understanding how supersonic flight and the emerging technology of eVTOLs (Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing vehicles) impact everyday life.

In this episode, we explore:

• Aaron’s role in the development of the X-59, NASA’s groundbreaking contribution to quiet supersonic flight
  
  
  
• How scientists tackle environmental noise challenges during the design phase
  
  
  
• The acoustic impact of the rapidly growing eVTOL industry—and how it can be mitigated
  
  
  
• Practical advice for students and early-career professionals aiming to work at NASA or in next-gen aerospace

If, like us, you're fascinated by the intersection of science, noise control, and aviation, this episode is packed with insights and innovative methods you won’t want to miss.

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