Firefly Alpha Block 2 | QuickSounder

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.

This mission is flown by Firefly Aerospace. It is classified as an earth science mission. Liftoff is planned from Space Launch Complex 2W. Launch windows shift often; this page is rebuilt every day with the latest scheduled time.

Firefly Alpha Block 2 | QuickSounder is scheduled to lift off on Wednesday, September 30, 2026. The countdown above updates live, so you always see exactly how many days, hours, and minutes are left.