Navy Communications Satellite Blasted Into Space
An Atlas rocket blasted the Navy’s first extremely high frequency communications satellite into space Saturday night.
The 15 1/2-story-tall rocket, weighing more than 208 tons, roared into the sky at 8:25 p.m. EST and separated from the satellite about 30 minutes later. The launch was delayed just over an hour by a computer problem.
The spacecraft will serve all U.S. armed forces. Other users will include the White House and some government agencies, officials said. The new satellite and its Atlas rocket cost $198 million.
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