Atlas 5 boosts NASA comsat into space  CBS News  A United Launch
Alliance Atlas 5 rocket rumbled to life and blasted off from the
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Wednesday evening, lighting up
the night sky as it boosted a powerful new NASA Tracking and
Data Relay Satellite into orbit.  Valued between $350 mission
and $400 million -- not counting the rocket -- the Boeing-built
TDRS-K satellite is the first of three new models joining NASA's
globe-spanning fleet of high-speed relay stations used by the
International Space Station, science satellites and deep space
probes.  A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket climbs away
from the Cape Canaveral Air Force station, boosting a powerful
new NASA data relay satellite into orbit. (Credit: United Launch
Alliance) The 192-foot-tall Atlas 5 rocket's RD-180 first stage
engine ignited with a rush of fiery exhaust at 8:48 p.m. EST
(GMT-5), quickly throttling up to full power of more than
860,000 pounds of thrust.  Putting on a dramatic evening show
for area residents