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Firefly Aerospace/Firefly Alpha Block 2·Space Launch Complex 2W

Firefly Alpha Block 2 | QuickSounder

Orbit: SSO·Type: Earth Science·Agencies: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Countdown to T-0

GMT Time
Spaceport
To Be Determined
Firefly Alpha Block 2 | QuickSounder mission image
Vehicle: Firefly Alpha Block 2Credit: Firefly Aerospace / Jack Beyer · Launch Library 2

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.

Target orbit
SSO · Sun-Synchronous Orbit
Mission type
Earth Science
Payload
QuickSounder
Agencies
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Target liftoff time (UTC)

00:00:00 UTC

Monday, 15 February 2027

Instantaneous window

Planned T-0 liftoff

00:00:00 UTCWindow open
00:00:00 UTCPlanned ignition
00:00:00 UTCWindow close
Rocket family
Firefly Alpha
Height
31.6m
Diameter
1.8m
Payload to LEO
1,030kg
Payload to SSO
630kg
Liftoff thrust
736kN
Stages
2