It is expected to cruise at Mach 1.42 (1,510 km/h; 937 mph) at an altitude of 55,000 ft (16,800 m), creating a low 75 effective perceived noise level (EPNdB) thump to evaluate supersonic transport acceptability.

[8] Testing was for static stability and control, dynamic forced oscillations, and laser flow visualization, expanding on previous experimental and computational predictions.

To simulate the thump, an F/A-18 Hornet is diving from 50,000 ft (15,200 m) to briefly go supersonic for reduced shock waves over Galveston, Texas, an island, and a stronger boom over water.

[14] This is to be followed by high speed wind tunnel tests to verify inlet performance predictions with a 9.5%-scale model at NASA Glenn Research Center.

[12] The critical design review was successfully held on September 9–13, before the IRB report to NASA's Integrated Aviation Systems Program by November.

[17][needs update] As of 2018, community-response flight tests starting in 2023–2025 were planned to be used for ICAO's Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection meeting (CAEP13) establishing a sonic boom standard.

[6] As of 2022, the results of the community overflights were slated to be delivered to the ICAO and the FAA in 2027, allowing for a decision to be made to revise the rules on commercial supersonic travel over land in 2028.

[18] NASA reported the installation of the General Electric F414-GE-100 engine on the X-59, which took place at Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works in Palmdale, California early November 2022.

[6][27] In January 2019, RTX Corporation subsidiary Collins Aerospace was selected to supply its Pro Line Fusion Cockpit avionics, displaying[clarification needed] the boom on the ground, and EVS with long-wave infrared sensors.