The Delta 4 launched at 6:53 p.m. EST (2353 GMT) from Complex 37B at Cape Canaveral, turning east over the Atlantic Ocean and powering into orbit before successfully deploying the Boeing-built WGS 8 spacecraft.
These photos show the rocket clearing the launch pad, pitching east, climbing through a near-transparent cloud layer, then shedding its four solid rocket boosters to tumble back into the Atlantic. The final image — a multi-second exposure — shows the upper stage’s RL10 engine continuing the journey into orbit downrange from Florida’s Space Coast.
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from Spaceflight Now bit.ly/2gEE4Ys