The Mackie Planetarium at Northern Oklahoma College Enid is hosting a Public Watch Party for the roll-out of the new NASA X-59 aircraft.
The roll out will be Friday, Jan. 12, at 3 p.m.
Lockheed Martin is the manufacturer of the aircraft. According to their website, the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works® team is solving one of the most persistent challenges of supersonic flight – the sonic boom. The X-59 will be used to collect community response data on the acceptability of a quiet sonic boom generated by the unique design of the aircraft. The data will help NASA provide regulators with the information needed to establish an acceptable commercial supersonic noise standard to lift the ban on commercial supersonic travel over land.
This breakthrough would open the door to an entirely new global market for aircraft manufacturers, enabling passengers to travel anywhere in the world in half the time it takes today.
Friday’s ceremony and rollout will stream live on the NASA+ streaming service. Coverage will also air on NASA Television, the NASA App, YouTube, and the agency website.
NOC Division Chair for Engineering, Physical Science, and Process Technology Dr. Frankie Wood-Black said this activity has been made possible by NOC’s involvement with NASA.
As part of NOC’s watch party, several items will be available for use by students, teachers and aircraft enthusiasts including coloring sheets, paper airplane patterns, and paper desk models.
“I am very excited about this opportunity as NASA has helped to fund upgrades to our facilities and which allows for these types of events to be possible,” she said. “It is just a natural fit for NOC and the City of Enid.”
For those attending the Watch Party a special code for those individuals participating in NASA’s Flight Log Program.
NOC is one of 12 post-secondary locations in the United States hosting the rollout.
The planetarium is on the NOC Enid campus at 100 S. University.
Northern Oklahoma College, the state’s first public two-year community college, is a multi-campus, land-grant institution that provides high quality, accessible, and affordable educational opportunities and services.
NOC serves nearly 4,000 students through the home campus in Tonkawa, branch in Enid, and NOC/OSU Gateway Program in Stillwater. Of these students about 80% receive financial aid and/or scholarships. 75% of NOC students complete their degree with zero debt.
The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and offers associate degrees in three general areas: Arts, Science and Applied Science; the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs; and the Accreditation Commission for Education and Nursing.
For more information about Northern Oklahoma College please call (580) 628-6208 or visit the NOC website at www.noc.edu.
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