Hauling the U.S. Air Force's SBIRS GEO 1 early warning satellite, an Atlas 5 rocket blasted off at 2:10 p.m. EDT (1810 GMT) Saturday from pad 41 at Cape Canaveral. These views showing the 19-story launcher's graceful ascent away from the Space Coast were captured from Playalinda Beach about 4.8 miles north of the pad.

Photo credit: Stephen Clark/Spaceflight Now

Credit: Spaceflight Now photos by Stephen Clark