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Atlas Five rocket launches successfully from Cape Canaveral

Published  July 15, 2015 7:38am EDT
Florida
FOX 35 Orlando

An Atlas Five rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station successfully around 11:30 a.m. Wednesday .  

Officials say the rocket is carrying a GPS satellite.

This launch marked the tenth launch of twelve Global Positioning Satellites for the U.S. Air Force.

Officials say the GPS series is vital to U.S. national security providing greater accuracy for navigation, improving military signal strength and also helps with commercial aviation and search and rescue operations.

The new satellite will join a GPS constellation of 31 currently orbiting in six planes about 12,000 miles up.

The new arrival will allow a near 20-year-old satellite to settle into backup status.

A Delta IV rocket is scheduled for liftoff with a military communications satellite on July 22.