CAPE CANAVERAL Air Station, Fla., Oct. 24, 1997 – A Lockheed Martin Astronautics Atlas IIA rocket successfully launched the sixth Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS) III spacecraft this evening from Complex 36, Pad A, at Cape Canaveral Air Station (CCAS), FL. Liftoff occurred at 8:46 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.