Live coverage: Atlas 5 countdown and launch journal

Making its second launch in just six days, a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket flight blasted off Thursday from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

A state-of-the-art satellite to provide high-speed Internet connectivity across North America, specializing in areas where terrestrial networks are not available, will be mounted atop its booster rocket Saturday in preparation for launch next weekend.

SpaceX has ordered additional inspections on a Falcon 9 rocket at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California,  a decision that is expected to keep the launcher grounded for several days until after the Thanksgiving holiday, officials said Saturday.