Weather satellite launched

The sky was lit up as a weather satellite was launched into space in California Friday.

The Delta 2 rocket lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base shortly before 6am.

It carried the NPP Environmental satellite for NASA and NOAA and will be used to improve weather forecasts as well as monitoring climate change.

The satellite was suppose to be launched back in 2006, but it was delayed five years after there were problems in developing the instruments.