Nation IN BRIEF : FLORIDA : Military Satellite Finally Launched
An Atlas rocket hurtled into space from Cape Canaveral, Fla., carrying a military communications satellite intended to link the White House with U.S. forces around the world during nuclear attacks or other crises. In peacetime, the $130-million satellite will serve as a switchboard for Defense Department personnel. Liftoff was delayed more than an hour because of last-minute trouble with ground support equipment and an on-board heater for the satellite. The launch had been canceled three times in the last 1 1/2 weeks, twice because of problems with the $54-million rocket and once because of high winds.
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