Luigi Pasquali, CEO of Thales Alenia Space's Italian arm, says the U.S. decision to agree to prolong the life of the International Space Station at least through 2020 may open up more opportunities for international partners than initially thought. In early discussions, European space officials alluded to the prospect of two additional Automated Transfer Vehicle sales and a possible project to man-rate the Ariane 5 launch vehicle or activate manned space infrastructure provisions being designed into the new Soyuz launch pad in Kourou, French Guiana (AWST Feb. 15, p. 36).
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