(10302) 1989 ML

(10302) 1989 ML
(10302) 1989 ML
Discovery
Discovered by E. F. Helin, J. Alu
Discovery date June 29, 1989
Designations
Alternate name(s) 1992 WA
Minor planet
category		 Amor
Epoch June 14, 2006 (JD 2453900.5)
Aphelion 216.357 Gm (1.446 AU)
Perihelion 164.358 Gm (1.099 AU)
Semi-major axis 190.358 Gm (1.272 AU)
Eccentricity 0.137
Orbital period 524.284 d (1.44 a)
Average orbital speed 26.28 km/s
Mean anomaly 285.977°
Inclination 4.378°
Longitude of ascending node 104.407°
Argument of perihelion 183.249°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions 0.6 km
Mass 2.3×1011? kg
Mean density 2.0? g/cm³
Equatorial surface gravity 0.0002? m/s²
Escape velocity 0.0003? km/s
Rotation period ? d
Albedo 0.10?
Temperature ?
Spectral type X
Absolute magnitude (H) 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.

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.[1]

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