Firefly Alpha Block 2 | QuickSounder
NET: 2026-09-30T00:00:00Z
TBD Earth Science Sun-Synchronous Orbit
§ Launch
- Provider
- Firefly Aerospace
- Vehicle
- Firefly Alpha Block 2
- Customer
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- Mission name
- QuickSounder
§ Pad
- Name
- Space Launch Complex 2W
- Operator
- Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
- Country
- USA
- Coordinates
- 34.7556°, -120.6224°
§ Mission
QuickSounder is the first satellite mission of the Near Earth Orbit Network (NEON) program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which aims to replace the current Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) series of polar orbit weather satellites. This pathfinder mission will demonstrate NOAA's ability to launch a small satellite within 3 years, flying a refurbished Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS) instrument to polar orbit.