(10302) 1989 ML

(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 29 June 1989.

(10302) 1989 ML
Discovery[1]
Discovered byE. F. Helin, J. Alu
Discovery date29 June 1989
Designations
MPO 244277, 1992 WA
Amor
NEO
Orbital characteristics[2]
Epoch 24 October 2005 (JD 2453667.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc9733 days (26.65 yr)
Aphelion1.44623 AU (216.353 Gm)
Perihelion1.09872 AU (164.366 Gm)
1.27247 AU (190.359 Gm)
Eccentricity0.13655
1.44 yr (524.29 d)
26.28 km/s
125.941°
0° 41m 11.911s / day
Inclination4.37779°
104.409°
183.283°
Earth MOID0.0827215 AU (12.37496 Gm)
Physical characteristics
Dimensions0.6 km
19 h (0.79 d)
X
19.3

    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.[3]

    See also

    References
    1. "(10302) = 1989 ML = 1992 WA". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
    2. "10302 (1989 ML)". JPL Small-Body Database. NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
    3. "Sancho Study: Designing the Minimum Earth Escape Spacecraft". European Space Agency. 23 May 2012.


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