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NASA announces experimental X-70 Fractal aircraft: A 'new beginning for aeronautics'

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An AI-generated image released by NASA alongside the announcement of its new X-70 jet. (Image credit: NASA)

NASA has revealed a glimpse of its next X-plane, known as the X-70 Fractal.

Or at least what it thinks the X-70 will look like once built. The agency released a short statement on Wednesday (Nov. 4) announcing the X-plane , or experimental plane, declaring it to be a highly maneuverable test bed with a "rapidly reconfigurable flight-control technology," allowing NASA to swap both external and internal components on-the-fly. This modular architecture will allow NASA to "explore aircraft maneuverability in ways never before demonstrated in crewed flight," according to the agency's statement .

The announcement was made alongside an AI-generated image showing two canted vertical tail fins emerging from swirling smoke.…

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