According to US press reports, European satellite manufacturer Astrium has held talks in the last eight months over a possible link-up with Loral Space & Communications and separately Lockheed Martin. Astrium is “very serious” about pursuing such a link-up and has asked its lawyers to begin a review of the legal precedents, while company representatives have starting sounding out the US State Department and Pentagon officials. Other reports have said that Alcatelspace, another major European satellite builder, is in discussions over forming a possible strategic partnership with Boeing Satellite Systems, Boeing’s satellite unit.