Talks are continuing on a possible combination of Italy's Alenia
Spazio with French satellite and communications leader Alcatel,
while a deal with the Franco-German Astrium now seems less likely.
All three are here at Le Bourget, where discussions will likely
intensify on which group will form the center of gravity for European
space activity.
Alenia Spazio, one of Europe's largest space industries and the
prime contractor on all programs managed by the Italian Space Agency,
had been talking to both groups "but we decided to take a sabbatical
from Astrium when it changed its strategy," Guiseppe Viriglio,
CEO of the Finmeccanica-owned Italian company told Show News.
"Their strategy will no longer fit in with our own," he
says.
Astrium, 75% owned by EADS, is Europe's largest satellite manufacturer
and a major shareholder in Ariane and Arianespace. It decided recently
to split into separate businesses for launchers and satellites.
Alenia Spazio is active in both and wants to keep those activities
together, Viriglio says.
"Both Alcatel and Astrium are still possibilities, but talks
are continuing only with Alcatel," he reports. Alcatel is Europe's
No. 2 satellite maker. Finmeccanica, Viriglio says, is interested
only in joining in a space grouping, not in divesting itself of
any of its space activities, which it views as strategically important.
Alenia Spazio is a major player in space. It is a major contractor
on the Space Shuttle, and is responsible for 60% of the manned components
of the International Space Station including Columbus, the cupola,
node, and three multipurpose logistics modules-Leonardo, Raffaello
and Donatello, which have all been delivered to NASA.
"We now look to being a big player in the utilization and operation
of the space station," Viriglio says.
The company is investing its own money in the commercialization
of space with the lofty ideal "to make our world more efficient,
faster and safer." To this end it has invested more than $500
million in the first satellite multimedia network to cover Europe
and the Mediterranean basin. EuroSkyWay will bring fast Internet
access, telemedicine, tele-education, telelocation, and e-commerce
to 500 million people in Europe and the Mediterranean basin, through
little more than a 100-centimeter dish antenna when it becomes operational
at the end of 2003. Talks are continuing to find an operator for
the services it can provide.
In separate developments, Alenia Spazio is in discussions for a
joint venture or outright purchase of rival Telespazio from Telecom
Italia SpA to boost its size in the market for space-related products,
and last month it signed a cooperation deal with Boeing to supply
upper stage fuel tanks for Delta II rockets in return for the ability
to purchase Delta launches at competitive prices for its satellite
customers.
"This new agreement will be of particular value to us in our
efforts to increase our offerings to the commercial market,"
Viriglio says.
By John Morris
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