VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AP) — A U.S. military weather satellite has been launched from California.

An Atlas V rocket carrying the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-19 spacecraft blasted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base at 7:46 a.m. PDT Thursday, headed for a polar orbit.

United Launch Alliance webcast commentator Matt Donovan says the satellite was scheduled to be released from the upper stage 18 minutes after liftoff.

The Air Force says the program's satellites have been the primary provider of terrestrial and space weather information to the U.S. military for 50 years.

The satellite was built by Lockheed Martin.


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