(ANSA) - Rome, February 2 - U.S. space agency NASA has selected an Italian-made miniature satellite to fly on the first mission of its new Space Launch System (SLS) rocket.

The rocket's launch, scheduled for the end of 2018, is set to pave the way for trips to the Moon and Mars. Though it aims to transport human crew, its first mission will take 13 miniature satellites into space.

Among these "CubeSats", the only European-made satellite is the ArgoMoon, developed by Italian firm Argotech and coordinated by the Italian Space Agency (ASI). ArgoMoon is the first nanosatellite designed for deep space, or for functioning in the lunar orbit and beyond. "In the big challenge of exploration shared by worldwide space agencies, the voyage of man towards Mars, ASI continues to be in the front line, promoting and supporting the scientific and technological excellence of our country," said ASI's Gabriele Mascetti.

ArgoMoon is roughly the size of a shoebox and contains a high resolution camera, two solar panels, a small propulsion system and a communication system that will be tested from the lunar orbit.

