(10302) 1989 ML
| Discovery[1] | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | E. F. Helin, J. Alu |
| Discovery date | June 29, 1989 |
| Designations | |
| MPO 244277, 1992 WA | |
Amor  NEO |
|
| Orbital characteristics | |
| Epoch June 14, 2006 (JD 2453900.5) | |
| Aphelion | 216.357 Gm (1.446 AU) |
| Perihelion | 164.358 Gm (1.099 AU) |
| 190.358 Gm (1.272 AU) | |
| Eccentricity | 0.137 |
| 524.284 d (1.44 a) | |
|
Average orbital speed
|
26.28 km/s |
| 285.977° | |
| Inclination | 4.378° |
| 104.407° | |
| 183.249° | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Dimensions | 0.6 km |
| Albedo | 0.10? |
|
Spectral type
|
X |
| 19.5 | |
(10302) 1989 ML is an as yet unnamed near-Earth asteroid. It is approximately 0.6 km in diameter. An Amor asteroid, it orbits between Earth and Mars. It is an X-type asteroid, so its surface composition is yet unknown. It was discovered by Eleanor F. Helin and Jeff T. Alu at Palomar Observatory on June 29, 1989.
Targeting by spacecraft
The delta-v ('effort') required to reach 1989 ML from a low-Earth orbit is only 4.8 km/s, ranking fifth (as of March 2007) amongst the near-Earth asteroids with well-established orbits. 1989 ML is thus particularly 'easy' (and 'cheap') to reach by spacecraft.
1989 ML was considered as a target of the Japanese spacecraft Hayabusa (then Muses-C) but had to be given up due to technical reasons. It was also considered by the European Space Agency as a candidate target for the Don Quijote mission to study the effects of impacting a spacecraft into an asteroid; however, they too changed to other targets.[2]
References
External links
- Near-Earth asteroid Delta-v ranking, 1989 ML ranks fourth among the numbered asteroids
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