Posted: Thu, Aug 8, 2013, 7:13 AM ET (1113 GMT)

A Delta 4 rocket successfully launched the sixth in a series of communications satellites used by the US military and allied nations. The Delta 4 Medium-Plus (5,4) lifted off on schedule at 8:29 pm EDT Wednesday (0029 GMT Thursday) from Space Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral. The rocket released the Wideband Global SATCOM 6 (WGS-6) satellite 41 minutes later. The satellite is the sixth in a series of satellites that provide X- and Ka-band communications for US and allied militaries; this satellite was financed by Australia as part of the deal to give that nation access to the overall WGS system.