An Airbus spokesman told Forbes.com that although Middle Eastern airline Emirates had also shown interest in a stretched A380, the plane-maker was still "carefully observing" the market.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Other activities for Cassini scientists during the extended mission will include monitoring seasons on Titan and Saturn, observing unique ring events - such as the 2009 equinox when the Sun will be in the plane of the rings - and exploring new places within Saturn's magnetic "envelope" - or magnetosphere.

BBC: Nasa extends Saturn probe mission