A spacewalk by astronaut Mike Fincke and cosmonaut Gennady Padalka to fix a gyroscope on the International Space Station, originally scheduled for this week, has been postponed until at least June 24.

NASA officials decided last week to delay the spacewalk, saying the space station would be in a better position for communications and that the extra time would allow ground teams to develop better the spacewalk procedures.

The gyro, which failed when Fincke and Padalka reached the station in April, is one of four used to maintain the station's orientation. Two gyros are orienting and are sufficient for operating the station, but repairing the broken gyro will provide an extra margin of safety.

Fincke is a native of Emsworth.

First Published: June 13, 2004, 4:00 a.m.