A Boeing Delta 2 rocket launches a needed replacement satellite for the U.S. Air Force's Global Positioning System on May 10 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. Images: Boeing TV/Spaceflight Now.

Poised for launch The Delta 2 rocket sits atop pad 17A on Wednesday evening fueled and awaiting its launch into space.
The business end A camera positioned on the launch pad surface shows the bottom of the Delta 2 with the numbered strap-on solid rocket boosters seen.
Coming to life A Boeing technician triggers the engine start switch in the control center to ignite the first stage main engine and two vernier steering jet.
Liftoff! The first stage main engine starts and the six ground-lit solid rocket boosters are ignited to lift the Delta 2 rocket into the night sky.
Heading on course A ground tracking camera exaggerates the rocket's roll maneuver to begin the arcing flight downrange over the Atlantic Ocean.
Shedding weight The six soild rocket boosters ignited on the launch pad consume all their propellant and are jettisoned just over a minutes into flight.