article_snippet.sent: In 2018, Nasa will launch the Orion spacecraft using the largest, most powerful rocket booster ever built; the Space Launch System (SLS).
article_snippet.sent: Now, the space agency has revealed three missions that will use these small satellites during the test flight to help develop technologies for astronauts travelling to deep space.
article_snippet.sent: A concept image of the Near-Earth Asteroid Scout mission, one of 11 missions that will be secondary payloads to the first test flight of Nasa's Space Launch System . '
article_snippet.sent: Nasa is taking advantage of a great opportunity to conduct more science beyond Nasa primary focus of this mission,' said Jody Singer manager of Nasa's Flight Programs and Partnerships Office. '
article_snippet.sent: While this new vehicle will enable missions beyond Earth orbit, Nasa're taking steps to increase the scientific and exploration capability of SLS by accommodating small, CubeSat-class payloads.'
article_snippet.sent: A solar sail works best when deployed in deep space and SLS will get us there,' said Les Johnson, principal investigator for NEA Scout at Marshall. '
article_snippet.sent: It will take us out of Earth orbit and to interplanetary space - where us need to be to deploy the solar sail.
article_snippet.sent: It's a perfect ride to begin us mission.'
article_snippet.sent: The experiments will be launched by Houston-based Nasa in 2018 during a test flight of the spacecraft using the largest, most powerful rocket booster ever built; the Space Launch System .
article_snippet.sent: The missions are a key part of the historic test flight, dubbed Exploration Mission-1.
article_snippet.sent: The masses of these secondary payloads will essentially piggyback on the SLS flight, providing what otherwise would be costly access to deep space. '
article_snippet.sent: We are expanding the capabilities of this particular SLS test flight,' said Joseph Pelfrey, deputy manager of the Exploration and Space Transportation Development Office at Marshall. '
article_snippet.sent: The rocket will be the strongest ever built by Nasa and We want to take advantage of that design. '
article_snippet.sent: Flying secondary payloads is something We plan to do for missions to come and provide the science community an opportunity they haven't had before.' they will essentially piggyback on the SLS flight, providing what otherwise would be costly access to deep space.
article_snippet.sent: Pictured is an artist's impression of the Space Launch System .