Didymos
(65803) Didymos · 1996 GT
Introduction
- Type
- Binary near-Earth asteroid, Apollo group; S-type; potentially hazardous asteroid.Source: [1] Wikipedia
- Discovery
- Discovered: April 11, 1996 — Spacewatch, Kitt Peak, Arizona (Joseph Montani).Source: [2] NASA Science
Physical
- Size
- Diameter: ≈ 780 m (NASA: about 805 m).Source: [3] NASA JPL Solar System Dynamics
- Mass
- Bulk density: ≈ 2.17 g/cm³.Source: [3] NASA JPL Solar System Dynamics
- Rotation
- Rotation period: ≈ 2.26 hours.Source: [3] NASA JPL Solar System Dynamics
- Surface composition
- Not measured in detail in our sources.
- Moons
- Moon: Dimorphos, ≈ 170 m across, discovered 2003.Source: [2] NASA Science
Orbit & access
- Orbit
- Distance from Sun: 1.01–2.27 AU (average ≈ 1.64 AU); Orbital period: ≈ 770 days (2.1 years); Orbital inclination: ≈ 3.4°.Source: [3] NASA JPL Solar System Dynamics
- Accessibility (Δv / travel time)
- Model assumptionAbout 7.0 km/s of ideal Δv from low Earth orbit (3.72 km/s to depart + 3.29 km/s to arrive), and about 0.8 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
- DART impact on moon: September 26, 2022 — shortened Dimorphos's orbit by 33 minutes; Hera: ESA spacecraft launched Oct. 7, 2024; rendezvous November 2026.Source: [2] NASA Science, [4] European Space Agency
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 −$1,981M (bear), −$959M (base) and $6,492M (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 →