Firefly Aerospace
QuickSounder
TBD
- NET (T-0)
- 30 SEP · 00:00 UTC
- Window
- Instantaneous
- Rocket
- Firefly Alpha Block 2
- Operator
- Firefly Aerospace
- Pad
- Space Launch Complex 2W · Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
- Payload
- QuickSounder
- Orbit
- Sun-Synchronous Orbit
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.