Thales-Finmeccanica JV says Rascom-QAF1 satellite to last 2 yrs instead of 15

PARIS (Thomson Financial) - Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture of Thales and Finmeccanica, said the Rascom-QAF1 trans-African telecommunications satellite it built, which had a helium leak, can be restored to its planned orbit but that its operating life will be 2 years instead of the planned 15. [e-mail] mjs/rfw COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Financial News Limited 2007. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Thomson Financial News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Financial News.