ATV production terminated as decision on follow-on nears [Spaceflight Now]

Confronted by parts obsolescence and waning political support, the European Space Agency has shut down subsystem production lines for the Automated Transfer Vehicle as member states debate how they will contribute to future international space exploration efforts, according to top spaceflight officials.
The huge cargo freighters, weighing more than 20 tons fully loaded, will stop flying in 2014 when the fifth resupply craft delivers equipment to the International Space Station.

Commercial flights by U.S. spacecraft will make up the rest of the lost capacity with the end of the ATV program.

Acting as the space station program's chief integrator, NASA plans to request the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency to order more H-2 Transfer Vehicles to cover that country's slice of the lab's operating costs.

JAXA is developing a returnable version of the HTV to fly as soon as late 2017, assuming funding to develop the modified spacecraft clears Japanese government budget-writers.

"HTV provides a unique capability," Gerstenmaier said. "It can carry external cargo, which is important to us. It also has a large hatch where you can carry full research racks across to the space station."

Gerstenmaier told lawmakers NASA would like to have four HTVs fly after 2015. The last of seven HTVs currently on contract would launch in 2016, so two or three additional missions may be required through 2020.

どうやらATVは2014年打ち上げの5号機分で生産ラインを閉じたそうです。理由はコンポーネントの陳腐化らしい。ATVの輸送プログラム終了後はアメリカの商業輸送機やHTVの増発で補う方針のようです。