It was discovered on 2 March 1981, by American astronomer Schelte Bus at the Siding Spring Observatory in New South Wales, Australia.
The asteroid was named after Laurence O'Rourke, a researcher at the European Space Astronomy Centre.
[2] O'Rourke orbits the Sun in the inner main-belt at a distance of 1.7–2.7 AU once every 3 years and 3 months (1,190 days).
[3] As of 2017, O'Rourke's spectral type, as well as its rotation period and shape remain unknown.
[1][4] This minor planet was named after Laurence O'Rourke (born 1970), a researcher at the European Space Astronomy Centre in Madrid, Spain, and a coordinator of ESA's Rosetta mission.