51823 Rickhusband


51823 Rickhusband, provisional designation, is a dark Lixiaohua asteroid from the outer regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 9 kilometers in diameter.
It was discovered on 18 July 2001, by astronomers of the Near-Earth Asteroid Tracking at Palomar Observatory in California, United States. The asteroid was named after American astronaut Rick Husband, who died in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster.

Orbit and classification

Rickhusband is a member of the Lixiaohua family, an outer-belt asteroid family of more than 700 known members, which consists of C- and X-type asteroids.
It orbits the Sun in the outer main-belt at a distance of 2.5–3.8 AU once every 5 years and 7 months. Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.22 and an inclination of 12° with respect to the ecliptic.
The body's observation arc begins with its first identification as by Spacewatch at Kitt Peak Observatory in May 1994, more than 7 years prior to its official discovery observation by NEAT.

Physical characteristics

Rotation period

As of 2017, no rotational lightcurve of Rickhusband has been obtained from photometric observations. The asteroid's rotation period, poles and shape remains unknown.

Diameter and albedo

According to the survey carried out by the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, Rickhusband measures 8.731 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo of 0.048.

Naming

This minor planet was named in memory of American astronaut Rick Husband, who was the commander of STS-107 and was killed in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster on 1 February 2003. The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 6 August 2003.