Onlookers crowd the beaches to view Atlas 5 launch

A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Wednesday with a classified payload for the U.S. government's spy satellite agency.

Hundreds of spectators flocked to Playalinda Beach less than 6 miles north of the launch pad to get the best public view of the liftoff, which occurred at 8:28 a.m. EDT (1228 GMT).

Photo credit: Stephen Clark/Spaceflight Now

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