The current U.S. astronaut aboard Mir, Mike Foale, has put on a happy face despite the setbacks, but CNN has been told a lack of oxygen and a surplus of carbon dioxide may have contributed to a series of onboard mistakes which threatened the health of the station and could have killed the crew.
And while domestic demand in surplus economies flags, the imbalances that have contributed to the current crisis will not right themselves, and will encourage protectionism.