Firefly AerospaceFirefly Alpha Block 2Space Launch Complex 2W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
QuickSounder
Launch window
No countdown — this launch time is not yet known to the minute.February 15, 2027Add to calendar
Image: Firefly Aerospace / Jack Beyer
Summary
QuickSounder is expected to launch on a Firefly Aerospace Firefly Alpha Block 2 from Space Launch Complex 2W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA on February 15, 2027. It is Firefly Aerospace's 11th launch, 1st this year and humanity's 7,539th orbital launch attempt. It is planned as the 4th Firefly Alpha Block 2 flight and the 1st this year. The payload is bound for Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO).
- Watch
- No webcast announced yet.
- Vehicle
- Firefly Alpha Block 2 · Firefly Aerospace
- Booster
- No booster details available.
- Mission
- Earth Science · Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO)for NOAA
- Milestone
- Planned as the 4th Firefly Alpha Block 2 flight · 1st this yearFirefly Aerospace's 11th launch1st this yearhumanity's 7,539th orbital launch attempt8th orbital launch attempt this year
Flight preview
Orbit: representative
Target site default for this orbit type. Not a catalogued object; this panel switches to the tracked orbit once the object is catalogued. Ascent drawn from padside's representative profile.
About this launch
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.
Pad
Space Launch Complex 2W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
Planned as the 103rd launch from Space Launch Complex 2W, 1st this year · 952nd from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
99 launches from this pad · 919 from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
46 days after the previous launch from this pad
Updates
Questions
When does QuickSounder launch?
QuickSounder is scheduled on February 15, 2027.
Where can I watch QuickSounder live?
No webcast has been announced yet.
What rocket is launching QuickSounder?
Firefly Alpha Block 2, flown by Firefly Aerospace. Firefly Alpha Block 2 spec sheet
Where is QuickSounder launching from?
Space Launch Complex 2W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA.
What orbit is QuickSounder going to?
Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO), a earth science mission.