European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - February 15, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 4 the stars and stripes wednesday february 15, 1989 launch revives military space program Cape canal Fra Fla Man a  A. A i /,.-,. Canaveral Fla. Up a new air Force Delta ii rocket carrying an Ultra precise $65 Mil lion navigation satellite blasted off tuesday on a Maiden voyage marking the debut of a revitalized Post challenger military space program. Under a Clear sky the 128-foot, $30 million rocket roared to life at 1 30 . And climbed away from the Cape canaveral air Force station adjacent to Nasa s Kennedy space Center 48 hours behind schedule be cause of weather problems. Spewing a Tongue of flame from its strap on solid fuel boosters the slender Blue and White rocket 14 percent More powerful than earlier deltas accelerated skyward atop a Trail of billowing White exhaust visible for Miles along Florida s space  nestled inside a 9.foot-wide fairing at the tip of the three stage rocket was the first of a new generation of glob Al positioning system Gas navigation satellites that ultimately will allow military forces on the ground at sea and in the air to determine their location and Altitude to within about 53 feet anywhere in the world. The launch had been scheduled for sunday but shifting High Altitude winds forced air Force managers to delay the flight. The weather appeared Ideal tues Day and the rocket made it off the pad on time at the beginning of a Brief nine minute launch  the flight marked a Milestone for the nation s Mili tary space program the first launch of an air Force rocket system ordered in the Wake of the challenger disaster to provide assured Access to space. The Delta is Job was to place the Gas satellite into an elliptical Transfer  if All goes Well an on Board solid fuel rocket will fire later this week to put the satellite in a circular 12-hour orbit 12,500 Miles up