The Day Humanity First Touched an Asteroid
Twenty-four years ago, a spacecraft designed only to orbit made history with an improvised landing on asteroid Eros, marking humanitys first controlled touchdown on a small celestial body
Launch Date
July 23, 1972
Launch Site
AFWTR
Launch Pad
SLC2W
Launch Vehicle
Delta 0900
NORAD ID
07892
International Designator
1972-058BJ
Epoch
Sat, 04 Jul 2026 02:15:25 GMT
Apogee
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Perigee
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Inclination
98.61°
Right Ascension
138.00°
Eccentricity
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Argument of Perigee
31.26°
Period
97.73 min
Mean Motion
14.73 rev/day
Latitude
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Longitude
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Altitude
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Velocity
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Name
DELTA 1 DEB
Alternative Name
deb Delta 89
Type
Status
Owner
GSFC
Country
United States
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
1 07892U 72058BJ 26185.09404753 .00002706 00000-0 39548-3 0 9999
2 07892 98.6068 138.0046 0097119 31.2603 329.4328 14.73471314687646
Source: Celestrak
Length
0
Diameter
0
Span
0
Dry Mass
0
Launch Mass
0
Shape
N/A
Radar Cross Section
0.055
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Payload
Unknown
Purpose
Unknown
Mission
Unknown
Manufacturer
Unknown
Life Expectancy
Unknown
Bus
Unknown
Configuration
Unknown
Motor
Unknown
Equipment
Unknown
Power System
Unknown
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
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Twenty-four years ago, a spacecraft designed only to orbit made history with an improvised landing on asteroid Eros, marking humanitys first controlled touchdown on a small celestial body
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