Photos: Delta 4 lights up the sky for night owl launch

Two research satellites to probe Earth’s climate patterns and test ion engine technology to counter atmospheric drag in an unusual low-altitude orbit launched Saturday on top of a Japanese H-2A rocket.

Preparing for its eighth launch of the year, the Atlas 5 rocket program has begun stacking the vehicle that will deploy a commercial satellite to provide Internet connectivity to rural America.

Launching its 10th mission this year, SpaceX delivered an Intelsat communications satellite to a high-altitude transfer orbit Wednesday with a Falcon 9 rocket launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida.