Italian astronaut Roberto Vittori, who is due to fly to the International Space Station (ISS), will test an Italian-designed sensor, a national news agency reported on Tuesday.

Ansa said the 'electronic nose', selected for the mission by the Italian Space Agency and NASA, is a highly sophisticated device able to detect various odors.

"The sensor is designed to identify numerous scents that human noses are unable to detect, and, in particular, to pinpoint those that are dangerous," it said.

The 45-year-old astronaut will be part of a six-person team making a voyage to the ISS on the Space Shuttle Endeavor.

This summer mission is slated for launch July 29.

PERUGIA, March 16 (RIA Novosti)