Herculina
(532) Herculina · discovered 1904 by Max Wolf
Introduction
- Type
- Main-belt asteroid, S-type (stony).Source: [1] NASA JPL Solar System Dynamics
- Discovery
- Discovered: April 20, 1904 by Max Wolf, Heidelberg; first catalogued as 1904 NY.Source: [2] Wikipedia
Physical
- Size
- Diameter: ≈ 168 km (JPL); often quoted near 200 km; Shape: Blocky; axis ratios ≈ 1 : 1.1 : 1.3 (2002 model).Source: [1] NASA JPL Solar System Dynamics, [2] Wikipedia
- Mass
- Not measured in our sources.
- Rotation
- Rotation period: ≈ 9.4 hours.Source: [1] NASA JPL Solar System Dynamics
- Surface composition
- Geometric albedo: ≈ 0.29 — bright for its size.Source: [1] NASA JPL Solar System Dynamics
- Moons
- Moons: None confirmed; a 1978 report was not borne out by Hubble in 1993.Source: [2] Wikipedia
Orbit & access
- Orbit
- Distance from Sun: 2.27–3.27 AU; Orbital period: ≈ 4.6 years; Inclination: ≈ 16.3°.Source: [1] NASA JPL Solar System Dynamics
- Accessibility (Δv / travel time)
- Model assumptionAbout 11.4 km/s of ideal Δv from low Earth orbit (4.90 km/s to depart + 6.51 km/s to arrive), and about 1.3 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
- No spacecraft visit is listed in our sources. What is known comes from telescopes.
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 −$2,102M (bear), −$963M (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 →