NASA's 2017 astronaut candidates (L to R) Bob Hines, Matthew Dominick and Jasmin Moghbeli practice flying in X-57 aircraft simulator at Armstrong Flight Research Center in Southern California. Starting with the fuselage of a Tecnam P20067T, the X-57 Maxwell electric propulsion airplane is being built from ideas being researched that could lead to the development of electric propulsion-powered aircraft, which would be quieter, more efficient and environmentally friendly than today's commuter aircraft.

NASA's 2017 astronaut candidates, (L to R) Jonny Kim, Frank Rubio, Jasmin Moghbeli, Raja Chari, Woody Hoburg, Jessica Watkins, Joshua Kutryk, Loral O'Hara, Bob Hines, Zena Cardman, Kayla Barron, Jenni Sidey-Gibbons, Matthew Dominick pose in front of X-1E at the end of their visit to Armstrong Flight Research Center, in Southern California.

NASA’s 2017 astronaut candidates (L to R) Raja Chari, Bob Hines, Joshua Kutryk, Jasmin Moghbeli, Jonny Kim, and Jessica Watkins toured aircraft hangar at Armstrong Flight Research Center, in Southern California. On the left, NASA’s, X-59 pilot, briefs them on use of F-15 for studying sonic booms during the development of the low-boom X-59 aircraft that is planned to fly supersonically over land. Low-level supersonic flight is not allowed at this time because of the loud noise levels generated when flying beyond the speed of sound.