51826 Kalpanachawla

51826 Kalpanachawla is an Eoan asteroid in the outer region of the asteroid belt, approximately 7 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 19 July 2001, by astronomers of the Near-Earth Asteroid Tracking program at Palomar Observatory in California, United States. The asteroid was named for Indo-American astronaut and mission specialist Kalpana Chawla, who died in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster.

Orbit and classification

Kalpanachawla is a member the Eos family, the largest family in the outer asteroid belt consisting of nearly 10,000 asteroids. It orbits the Sun in the outer asteroid belt at a distance of 2.8–3.3 AU once every 5 years and 5 months. Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.09 and an inclination of 10° with respect to the ecliptic.
The body's observation arc begins with a precovery taken by Spacewatch at Kitt Peak Observatory in April 1994, more than 7 years prior to its official discovery observation at Palomar.

Physical characteristics

The asteroid's spectral type is unknown. Members of the Eos family are typically K-type asteroids.

Diameter and albedo

According to the survey carried out by the NEOWISE mission of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, Kalpanachawla measures 6.947 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo of 0.160.

Rotation period

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

Naming

This minor planet was named after Indo-American astronaut and mission specialist Kalpana Chawla, who died in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster on 1 February 2003. The approved naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 6 August 2003. The following asteroids were also named in memory of the other six members of STS-107: 51823 Rickhusband, 51824 Mikeanderson, 51825 Davidbrown, 51827 Laurelclark, 51828 Ilanramon and 51829 Williemccool.