Itokawa
(25143) Itokawa · 1998 SF36
Introduction
- Type
- Near-Earth asteroid, Apollo group; spectral type S.Source: [1] NASA JPL Solar System Dynamics
- Discovery
- Discovered: September 26, 1998 — LINEAR survey, Socorro, New Mexico.Source: [1] NASA JPL Solar System Dynamics
Physical
- Size
- Size: ≈ 535 × 294 × 209 m (≈ 330 m mean diameter); Shape: Peanut-like — likely a contact binary of two rubble piles.Source: [1] NASA JPL Solar System Dynamics, [2] Wikipedia
- Mass
- Bulk density: ≈ 1.9 g/cm³.Source: [1] NASA JPL Solar System Dynamics
- Rotation
- Rotation period: ≈ 12.1 hours.Source: [1] NASA JPL Solar System Dynamics
- Surface composition
- Composition: Matches LL ordinary chondrite meteorites.Source: [3] NASA Science
- Moons
- None reported in our sources.
Orbit & access
- Orbit
- Distance from Sun: 0.95–1.70 AU (average ≈ 1.32 AU); Orbital period: ≈ 556 days (1.5 years); Orbital inclination: ≈ 1.6°.Source: [1] NASA JPL Solar System Dynamics
- Accessibility (Δv / travel time)
- Model assumptionAbout 5.4 km/s of ideal Δv from low Earth orbit (3.38 km/s to depart + 2.00 km/s to arrive), and about 0.6 years for an ideal transfer.Model calculation from our Space Resource Intelligence (SRI) sample report: ideal two-impulse Hohmann transfer with a plane change, no gravity assists. Real trajectories differ.
- Mission history
- Spacecraft: JAXA's Hayabusa — arrived September 2005; Sample returned: About 1,500 grains, landed in Australia June 13, 2010.Source: [4] Wikipedia
Resources & economy
- Believed resources
- Model assumptionOur model looks at bulk regolith for radiation shielding and construction feedstock. Usable fraction assumed at 0.5–0.9 of extracted material (bear to bull). Bulk regolith used with minimal processing (sorting/compaction) for shielding; SRI assumption.SRI sample-model assumption, not a measurement.
- Economic outlook
- Model assumptionScientific value now; any resource value is long-horizon option value. Our sample model gives an NPV of about −$1,954M (bear), −$958M (base) and $6,493M (bull).Model output from our SRI sample valuation model (launch, product value, transit, extraction and discount-rate inputs are scenario assumptions, not forecasts). Not investment advice.
- Business uses
- Information products, science partnerships, and a (very long-shot) in-space resource case. See the Business page. Open →