CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — United Launch Alliance’s Delta IV rocket launched from Cape Canaveral Thursday at 8:07 p.m.
Wednesday's attempt to launch the rocket was called off early in the day after stormy weather was forecast for Florida's east coast.
The rocket is carrying the seventh of 10 U.S. Air Force satellites into orbit that will improve communications for military forces.
Raw: Delta IV rocket launches from Cape Canaveral
John Hilliard, a tour guideand former Air Force colonel, watched the launch.
“When I was launching in 1960 it was very rudimentary. We were lucky to get a rocket up and working. Today it’s just the opposite,” he said.
The former Air Force satellite test conductor with a background in military intelligence estimates he’s seen more than a 1,000 launches.
He said it’s important the ULA Launch Series is adding another wide-band global satellite.
“This is probably the highest technology we have in our communications satellites today,” Hilliard said.
The satellite will bring enhanced communication capabilities to the troops around the world and to the U.S. government.
“The missile and space program is grown into me. I’ll get up at 3 o’clock in the morning to go out and watch a launch. I go to them all if I can,” Hilliard said.
The Delta IV was the second United Launch Alliance launch from Cape Canaveral this month. The first was Atlas 4 on July 15.
WFTV
