Talk of a bright new beginning may be premature, however.

ECONOMIST: German banks

It's not the miniature robotic space shuttle that NASA's planning to send into orbit this month, but another of the space agency's unmanned vehicles has edged closer to its beginning its mission, with the "nearly autonomous" Global Hawk aircraft having completed a key test flight bright and early on April 2nd.

ENGADGET: NASA's unmanned Global Hawk completes key test flight