The effect of solar flare activity that caused the launch to be delay is being monitored. It continues a gradual decline and may be within the acceptable limit at some time during the launch window.

As of late Thursday, the weather forecast for Saturday was favorable for a launch attempt with approximately a 15% chance of weather criteria violation. However, after solar flare activity was factored in, the chance of not meeting the criteria was 60%. Launch coverage on NASA Television will begin at 4 p.m. ADT (8 p.m. EDT). NASA Television is found on GE-2, transponder 9 (C band), located at 85 degrees West.

In Alaska, the satellite transponder for launch coverage has changed to Galaxy 10, transponder 21 (Ku band), located at 123 degrees West. Audio is also available on the "V" circuits that may accessed directly at 321/867-1220, 1240, 1260, 7135, 4003.

Starshine-3 was designed and built by NRL's Spacecraft Engineering Department as a fixed-point satellite to help calibrate "The Fence" -- the Navy's space surveillance network that tracks the thousands of objects that are now orbiting the Earth.

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