Posted: Thu, Jun 10, 2004, 10:40 AM ET (1440 GMT)
A spacewalk outside the International Space Station has been delayed for over a week because of a potential communications conflict with a Russian launch. The EVA, which was scheduled for June 16, has now been rescheduled for June 24, Russian officials said Thursday. According to Itar-Tass, the spacewalk was scheduled for the same day that a Proton rocket was scheduled to lift off from Baikonur carrying a commercial communications satellite, Intelsat 10-02. One communications satellite normally used for ISS communications will instead be used to support the launch, leading to the decision to delay the EVA. Interfax reported the delay was made at the request of American officials, but offered no further details. The EVA, to repair a faulty gyro used for attitude control, has already been delayed several days because of problems encountered with American spacesuits that had originally been planned for use on the spacewalk. Station managers have since decided to use Russian-built spacesuits instead, even though that will require the two-man crew to exit the station from a Russian airlock on the far side of the station from where the gyros are located.

Related Links:

•  Itar-Tass article
•  Interfax article