Firefly Aerospace will launch the QuickSounder satellite for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
NASA said Monday the company will provide the launch services under the Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare contract vehicle. VADR has a five-year ordering period, with a maximum value of $300 million across all contracts.
NOAA’s QuickSounder mission will build a satellite architecture in low Earth orbit to collect data for the National Weather Service and other users around the world. It is part of the Near Earth Orbit Network, a collaboration between NOAA and NASA that introduces a new approach to building global environmental satellite systems by using small to medium-sized satellites equipped with Earth observation instruments.
According to NOAA, QuickSounder will serve as a prototype for the agency’s next generation of environmental satellites. The satellite will use a refurbished Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder instrument, which was launched on the Joint Polar Satellite System.
QuickSounder is expected to launch in February 2026.
