In February 2008, the Columbus module was launched on the Space Shuttle Atlantis, creating space history when it was attached to the International Space Station as the first European laboratory dedicated to long-term research in microgravity.

Within a few weeks the Euro climbed from $1.25 to over $1.41 giving European real estate buyers an increased purchase power of 15% over domestic buyers. Florida Real Estate Broker Alice Stuebling-Salm offers advice for domestic property buyers.