CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — United Launch Alliance Delta IV rocket launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Wednesday afternoon.
The rocket is carrying a Global Positioning satellite into orbit approximately 11,000 miles above the Earth, according to Air Force officials.
The satellite has military and civilian applications, and will provide greater accuracy, increased signals and enhanced performance for users on Earth.
Despite limited visibility due to fog, there was still plenty of enthusiasm over the launch.
Raw: Delta IV launch
“I started watching them back in 1952. I’m excited any time there’s a launch,” said John Hilliard, who is retired from the Air Force.
Even with the successful launch, the days of the Delta IV may be drawing to an end.
“There are questions now as to whether or not we will continue to utilize the Delta IV, which puts additional pressure on us to come up with a solution to reliance on the Russian engines, because right now the Atlas does use the RD-180,” said Dale Ketcham of Space Florida.
United Launch Alliance has discussed retirement of its Delta IV, which would leave the Atlas V.
ULA is working on a new launch system but it wouldn’t be ready until 2019.
In the meantime, SpaceX is also trying to get certified to carry national security payloads.
WFTV
