While global warming meetings had most recently been overshadowed with international gatherings on economics crisis, news from outer space is no a Fool’s Day joke illustrating perfectly a real “free economy” global path to.

Russian cosmonaut complains he is not allowed to use American facilities as commercial interests dent space cooperation.

Space Toilet, courtesy of Cartoonstock.com

It was supposed to be the final frontier, where the petty jealousies of earth and other planetary concerns were left behind. But space is not the haven of international harmony it used to be. Once upon a time, astronauts on the international space station shared resources - food, equipment, facilities. But now, a veteran Russian cosmonaut has complained that he is not even allowed to use his American colleagues’ exercise bike - or his toilet.

By a way, NASA recently spent $32.5 million designing a toilet for the Space Shuttle that would defy zero gravity, with suction technology at 850 litres of airflow per minute.

Nothing known of astronauts’ attempts to use Russian-made sanitary facilities also broad economic measures were introduced by Russia in line with further developing the “market relations” at a space scale.