Watch an Atlas V Rocket Launch a GPS Satellite into Lower Earth Orbit

As reported by the Verge: It's a busy week for space travel. Today, two separate rockets are scheduled to launch payloads into lower Earth orbit — one from the United States, the other from French Guiana.

The first of these launches will be helmed by the United Launch Alliance, a joint venture of Boeing and Lockheed. The company's Atlas V rocket will take off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, carrying a GPS satellite to orbit for the Air Force. This is ULA's 10th launch of 12 GPS satellites for the Air Force — part of the GPS IIF satellite series meant to help sustain and upgrade the military's current constellation in space.

ULA has an 18-minute launch window beginning at 11:36AM ET. Watch the takeoff at ULA's website, with coverage starting at 11:16AM ET. Also check out the satellite getting mounted onto the rocket below.