(10302) 1989 ML

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(10302) 1989 ML
Discovery A
Discoverer E. F. Helin, J. Alu
Discovery date June 29, 1989
Alternate
designations
B
1992 WA
Category Amor
Orbital elements C
Epoch June 14, 2006 (JD 2453900.5)
Eccentricity (e) 0.137
Semi-major axis (a) 190.358 Gm (1.272 AU)
Perihelion (q) 164.358 Gm (1.099 AU)
Aphelion (Q) 216.357 Gm (1.446 AU)
Orbital period (P) 524.284 d (1.44 a)
Mean orbital speed 26.28 km/s
Inclination (i) 4.378°
Longitude of the
ascending node
(Ω)
104.407°
Argument of
perihelion
(ω)
183.249°
Mean anomaly (M) 285.977°
Physical characteristics D
Dimensions 0.6 km
Mass 2.3×1011? kg
Density 2.0? g/cm³
Surface gravity 0.0002? m/s²
Escape velocity 0.0003? km/s
Rotation period  ? d
Spectral class X
Absolute magnitude 19.5
Albedo (geometric) 0.10?
Mean surface
temperature
 ?
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(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.

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 target of the Japanese spacecraft Hayabusa (then Muses-C) but had to be given up due to technical reasons. It is one of two asteroids under consideration 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.

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