(8029) Miltthompson Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 15 September 1991 by H. E. Holt at Palomar.
NASA research pilot Milt Thompson (1926-1993) was the ninth pilot to fly the X-15 and made a total of 14 flights. He subsequently made the first flights of the M2-F1 and M2-F2 lifting bodies, which were the forerunners of the Space Shuttle.Naming citation (20120207/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Miltthompson is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Miltthompson is 2.84 au from the Sun and 2.76 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 8029 |
| Provisional designation | 1991 RR30 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 15.7 km (#2,963 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.0750 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 12.82 |
| Orbital period | 5.58 years |
| Semi-major axis | 3.15 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.73 – 3.56 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.133 |
| Inclination | 6.54° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.74 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.