Photos: Air Force Satellite Launch Lights Up the Night

By Space.com Staff
published

Delta 4 Rocket Launch Over Florida

MIKE KILLIAN / ARES INSTITUTE & AMERICASPACE.COM

Photographer Mike Killian captured this picture of the Jan. 19 Delta 4 rocket launch from Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Wideband Global SATCOM-4 Satellite Launch 1

Pat Corkery/United Launch Alliance

A United Launch Alliance Delta 4 rocket blasts off from Space Launch Complex-37 at 7:38 p.m. EST on Jan. 19. 2012, with the Air Force's Wideband Global SATCOM-4 (WGS-4) satellite.

Wideband Global SATCOM-4 Satellite Launch 2

Pat Corkery/United Launch Alliance

A United Launch Alliance Delta 4 rocket blasts off from Space Launch Complex-37 at 7:38 p.m. EST on Jan. 19. 2012, with the Air Force's Wideband Global SATCOM-4 (WGS-4) satellite.

Wideband Global SATCOM-4 Satellite Launch 3

Pat Corkery/United Launch Alliance

A United Launch Alliance Delta 4 rocket blasts off from Space Launch Complex-37 at 7:38 p.m. EST on Jan. 19. 2012, with the Air Force's Wideband Global SATCOM-4 (WGS-4) satellite.

Wideband Global SATCOM-4 Satellite Launch 4

Pat Corkery/United Launch Alliance

A United Launch Alliance Delta 4 rocket blasts off from Space Launch Complex-37 at 7:38 p.m. EST on Jan. 19. 2012, with the Air Force's Wideband Global SATCOM-4 (WGS-4) satellite.

Wideband Global SATCOM-4 Satellite Launch 5

Pat Corkery/United Launch Alliance

A United Launch Alliance Delta 4 rocket blasts off from Space Launch Complex-37 at 7:38 p.m. EST on Jan. 19. 2012, with the Air Force's Wideband Global SATCOM-4 (WGS-4) satellite.

Delta 4 Rocket Carrying Wideband Global SATCOM-4 Satellite 1

United Launch Alliance

A United Launch Alliance Delta IV stands ready for launch at Space Launch Complex-37 with the Air Force's Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS-4) payload. The rocket launched Jan. 19, 2012.

Delta 4 Rocket Carrying Wideband Global SATCOM-4 Satellite 2

United Launch Alliance

A United Launch Alliance Delta IV stands ready for launch at Space Launch Complex-37 with the Air Force's Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS-4) payload. The rocket launched Jan. 19, 2012.

Delta 4 Rocket Carrying Wideband Global SATCOM-4 Satellite 3

United Launch Alliance

A United Launch Alliance Delta IV stands ready for launch at Space Launch Complex-37 with the Air Force's Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS-4) payload. The rocket launched Jan. 19, 2012.

Delta 4 Rocket Carrying Wideband Global SATCOM-4 Satellite 4

United Launch Alliance

A United Launch Alliance Delta IV stands ready for launch at Space Launch Complex-37 with the Air Force's Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS-4) payload. The rocket launched Jan. 19, 2012.

Delta 4 Rocket Carrying Wideband Global SATCOM-4 Satellite 5

United Launch Alliance

A United Launch Alliance Delta IV stands ready for launch at Space Launch Complex-37 with the Air Force's Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS-4) payload. The rocket launched Jan. 19, 2012.

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Space.com Staff
Space.com Staff
News and editorial team

Space.com is the premier source of space exploration, innovation and astronomy news, chronicling (and celebrating) humanity's ongoing expansion across the final frontier. Originally founded in 1999, Space.com is, and always has been, the passion of writers and editors who are space fans and also trained journalists. Our current news team consists of Editor-in-Chief Tariq Malik; Editor Hanneke Weitering, Senior Space Writer Mike Wall; Senior Writer Meghan Bartels; Senior Writer Chelsea Gohd, Senior Writer Tereza Pultarova and Staff Writer Alexander Cox, focusing on e-commerce. Senior Producer Steve Spaleta oversees our space videos, with Diana Whitcroft as our Social Media Editor.