With this week's launch of the Columbus space laboratory, Europe will make the transition from a part-time tenant to full-time owner of an outpost in orbit.
To oversee integration of Columbus into the International Space Station (ISS), two European Space Agency (Esa) astronauts will fly aboard the space shuttle Atlantis.
More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7126867.stm