5/26/13

Rocket lifts off with U.S. military communications satellite (VIDEO)


Irene Klotz
REUTERS
CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida
Fri May 24, 2013 9:47pm EDT

(Reuters) - An unmanned Delta 4 rocket blasted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Friday to put a multi-use, broadband communications satellite into orbit for the U.S. military. 

The 217-foot (66-meter) tall rocket lifted off at 8:27 p.m. EDT (0027 Saturday GMT), soaring southeast over the Atlantic Ocean as it headed into orbit.

Perched on top of the rocket was the fifth member of the Wideband Global SATCOM, or WGS, satellite network, which provides the U.S. military, national leaders and allies with high-capacity broadband communications.

The satellites also can be used by remotely piloted aircraft, or drones, and other users simultaneously.

Story continues here: Reuters.com



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