Posted: Thu, Oct 30, 2014, 10:07 AM ET (1407 GMT)
An Atlas 5 rocket, flying its 50th mission, successfully launched a navigation satellite Wednesday afternoon. The Atlas 5 401 lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, at 1:21 pm EDT (1721 GMT) Wednesday, and its Centaur upper stage deployed the GPS 2F-8 into orbit several hours later. The satellite, built by Boeing, is the eighth in the latest series of satellites that provide improved position, navigation, and timing services. The next generation of GPS satellites, called GPS 3, will start launching in late 2016. The launch was the 50th for the Atlas 5 since its introduction in 2002.

Related Links:

•  SpaceNews article
•  Spaceflight Now article
•  Reuters article
•  US Air Force press release
•  ULA press release