Why has NASA canceled the X-57 electric plane project?

The NASA X-57 Maxwell was an experimental aircraft developed by NASA, with the intention of demonstrating technologies to reduce fuel use, emissions, and noise. The first flight of the X-57 was scheduled for 2023, but the program was canceled due to problems with the propulsion system.

The X-57 was a modified Tecnam P2006T aircraft with 14 electric motors, each driving one propeller. The engines were arranged in a distributed propulsion system, with multiple engines on each wing, and power was received from a battery installed on the aircraft.

During testing, the X-57 team encountered a number of problems with the propulsion system. These included:

The engines were not as efficient as expected.

The engines were not as reliable as expected.

The engines generated a lot of heat, which could damage the aircraft.

The team worked to address these issues, but were unable to do so within the project's budget and timeline. As a result, NASA decided to cancel the X-57 project.

The cancellation of the X-57 project is a setback for the development of electric aircraft. However, the project achieved some important milestones. The team successfully developed a distributed propulsion system for an aircraft and collected valuable data on the performance of electric motors. These data may be used by other researchers who are working on electric aircraft.

The cancellation of the X-57 project also highlights the challenges facing electric aircraft. Electric motors are still not as efficient or reliable as they could be. And they also generate more heat than expected, which can be a problem for planes. These challenges will need to be addressed before electric aircraft can become a viable alternative to gasoline-powered aircraft.

Despite the challenges, there is still potential for electric aircraft. Electric motors are quiet and produce no emissions, making them ideal for urban air transport. They are also relatively easy to maintain, which could lower the cost of operating electric aircraft.

The cancellation of the X-57 project is a setback, but it's not the end of the road for electric aircraft. The research that was carried out on the X-57 project will help other researchers who are working on electric aircraft. With continued research and development, electric aircraft could become a reality for short-haul flights within a few years.

When ? Hard to predict, but there is already an electric plane (Alice) that has done its first flight tests. It is a matter of not much time.