An Atlas V rocket with a U.S. Navy communications satellite successfully launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station — one of two launches in the U.S. on Friday morning.

  • MUOS-5 satellite part of military communications network
  • 5 MUOS satellites will network with 4 operational relay ground stations
  • NASA also launched suborbital rocket from Virginia

The 200-foot-tall rocket blasted off from Space Launch Complex 41 at 10:30 a.m.

The MUOS-5 satellite, built by Lockheed Martin, is the final piece of a network of satellites designed to improve internet, voice and data services to U.S. military forces that are 10 times more advanced than the previous system. The five MUOS satellites will network with four operational relay ground stations, providing near-global coverage.

The satellite will provide "crystal clear voice and mission data, for all sorts of operations and commander use," said Steve Davis of Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command.

The five solid rocket boosters provided 1.5 million pounds of thrust. Friday's launch was extremely visible because of the clear skies.

This was ULA's second national security payload launch in the past two weeks. A Delta IV Heavy rocket soared to space June 11 with a government spy satellite.

The Space Coast launch was one of two launches in the U.S. on Friday. College students launched their experiments on a suborbital flight from a NASA facility in Virginia.

Live Blog LIVE CHAT: Atlas V rocket launch from Space Coast