Photos: Air Force Satellite Launch Lights Up the Night

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By Space.com Staff
published

Delta 4 Rocket Carrying Wideband Global SATCOM-4 Satellite 6

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 7

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 8

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 9

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 10

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 11

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 12

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 13

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 14

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.

WGS-4 Launch on Jan. 19, 2012

ULA

The Air Force's Wideband Global SATCOM 4 (WGS-4) satellite streaks into space aboard a Delta 4 rocket on Jan. 19, 2012 in this screenshot from a United Launch Alliance webcast.

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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.