AspireSpace Asteroid Web Pages
Asteroid Composition
There are a number of different types of asteroids, which can be
classified according to their albedo and spectra (these then
allow the chemical composition to be determined).
- C-Type - Rich in Carbon, these are the Carbonaceous
Asteroids, and are thought to be related to the class of meteorites called Carbonaceous Chondrites. They are very dark (which accounts for their very low albedos), in fact, they are darker than coal. 75% of known asteroids are C-Type asteroids.
- S-Type - Metallic Silicate asteroids; these are the Silicaceous asteroids, and are composed of
metallic nickel-iron mixed with iron and magnesium silicates.
- M-Type - Metal Asteroids, composed almost entirely of pure
Nickel-Iron.
- E-Type - Enstatite Asteroids. These asteroids are much rarer than the other types.
With the chemical composition obtained, one can then determine
candidate target asteroids for future mining operations.
| Asteroids: Vital Statistics |
|---|
| Asteroid | Number |
Dimensions | Class | Type | Albedo |
| Ceres | 1 |
1023 km | C |
Main Belt | 0.2 |
| Pallas | 2 |
608 km | U |
Main Belt | |
| Juno | 3 |
288 km | S |
Main Belt | |
| Vesta | 4 |
| U |
Main Belt | |
| Astraea |
5 |
117 km | U |
Main Belt | |
| Flora | 8 |
151 km | C |
Main Belt | |
| Hygeia | 10 |
| C |
Main Belt | |
| Eunomia | 15 |
| C |
Main Belt | |
| Euphrosyne |
31 |
370 km | C |
Main Belt | |
| Europa | 52 |
| C |
Main Belt | |
| Ida |
243 |
|
S | Main Belt | |
| Eros |
433 |
|
S | Apollo | |
| Davida | 511 |
323 km | C |
Main Belt | |
| Gaspra | 951 |
|
S | Main Belt | |
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