Launch
Firefly Aerospace
Firefly Alpha Block 2 | QuickSounder
- Mission
- rocket
- Pad
- Agency
Mission
QuickSounder
Earth Science
Sun-Synchronous Orbit
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.
Status
To Be Determined
Current date is a placeholder or rough estimation based on unreliable or interpreted sources.
Pad
Space Launch Complex 2W
USA
SLC-2W was originally used for Delta, Thor-Agena and Delta II launches. After the last Delta II flight in 2018, SLC-2W was repurposed to launch Firefly Alpha rockets.
Latitude: 34.7556
longitude: -120.6224
Map
Location
America/Los_Angeles
Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
Vandenberg Space Force Base is a United States Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County, California. Established in 1941, Vandenberg Space Force Base is a space launch base, launching spacecraft from the Western Range, and also performs missile testing. The United States Space Force's Space Launch Delta 30 serves as the host delta for the base, equivalent to an Air Force air base wing. In addition to its military space launch mission, Vandenberg Space Force Base also hosts space launches for civil and commercial space entities, such as NASA and SpaceX.
866
33
Location Image
Rocket
Firefly Alpha Block 2
Firefly Alpha (Firefly α) is a two-stage orbital expendable launch vehicle developed by the American aerospace company Firefly Aerospace to cover the commercial small satellite launch market. Alpha is intended to provide launch options for both full vehicle and ride share customers. The Block 2 version features increased length and structural strength for both stages, optimized propellant tanks and consolidated in-house batteries and avionics.
Details
Min stage: 2
Max stage: 2m
Length: 31.6m
Diameter: 1.82
Pending launches: 4
Low Earth Orbit (LEO) capacity: 1030kg
Launch cost: US$15000000
Manufacturer
Firefly Aerospace
Commercial
None
None
Agency
Firefly Aerospace
Type: Commercial
Details