ULA Launch of USAF AEHF-4 10/17/18

The U.S. Air Force launched the fourth communications satellite in the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) series on top of a ULA (United Launch Alliance) Atlas V 551 rocket. The nighttime launch took off on October 17, 2018 at 12:15 am Eastern Time from SLC-41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. This was the 131st mission for United Launch Alliance and their 50th launch for the Air Force. It was the 79th for an Atlas V rocket and the 9th in the 551 configuration.
AEHF satellites provide highly-secure, jam-proof connectivity between U.S. national leadership and deployed military forces. Atlas V rockets successfully launched the first three AEHF satellites in 2010, 2012, and 2013 as the new constellation was formed in geosynchronous orbit 22,300 miles above Earth.
Shot from the beach in Cape Canaveral.