Chasing an Interstellar Visitor: A Bold Mission Proposal to Pursue 3I/ATLAS
Interstellar objects passing through our Solar System are extraordinarily rare. 3I/ATLAS, confirmed as only the third known object originating from beyond our Solar System, made its closest approach to Earth in December before continuing its journey outward. Yet scientists are not ready to let this opportunity slip away. Instead, they have proposed a daring idea: send a spacecraft in pursuit.
Harnessing the Sun: The Solar Oberth Maneuver
Researchers from the Initiative for Interstellar Studies have outlined a theoretical mission capable of catching up with 3I/ATLAS even after it leaves the Solar System. Their study was published in the Journal of the British Interplanetary Society.
At the heart of the proposal lies the Solar Oberth Maneuver — a technique in which a spacecraft fires its engines at extremely close proximity to the Sun, leveraging its intense gravitational field to achieve a dramatic velocity boost. This method offers far greater efficiency compared to conventional deep-space burns.
Simulations suggest that a favorable alignment between Earth, Jupiter, and 3I/ATLAS in 2035 could make such a mission feasible. A roughly 500-kilogram spacecraft, launched from low Earth orbit aboard a refueled Starship Block 3, could theoretically intercept the object within 35 to 50 years.
A Nearly Impossible Chase
When discovered, 3I/ATLAS was already traveling inside Jupiter’s orbit at speeds exceeding 60 kilometers per second. A traditional launch window had effectively been missed. Without an aggressive approach like the Solar Oberth Maneuver, intercepting such a fast-moving interstellar visitor with current rocket technology would be virtually impossible.
Even with this maneuver, the mission would be extraordinarily challenging — but crucially, not forbidden by physics.
Why 3I/ATLAS Matters
Discovered on July 1, 2025, by the ATLAS telescope in Chile, 3I/ATLAS likely formed around another star billions of years ago. It represents a rare opportunity to directly study the chemistry and physical conditions of a foreign star system.
Infrared observations conducted in December 2025 by NASA’s SPHEREx revealed that the comet continued releasing large amounts of gas and dust even as it moved away from the Sun. Water vapor, carbon dioxide, methanol, methane, and cyanide were detected — suggesting surprising similarities to Solar System comets.
Data from the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory further showed that the object was losing approximately 40 kilograms of water per second at considerable solar distances, indicating an unusually rich reservoir of volatile ices.
Upcoming Jupiter Flyby
On March 16, 2026, 3I/ATLAS will pass approximately 53.6 million kilometers from Jupiter. During this encounter, NASA’s Juno spacecraft — currently orbiting the gas giant — may capture valuable data. Meanwhile, the European Space Agency’s JUICE mission will continue transmitting complementary observations.
Although 3I/ATLAS will soon move beyond the reach of most telescopes, the idea of pursuing it has already evolved from speculation into a tangible mission concept. If realized, humanity could, for the first time, follow an object from another star system back into interstellar space — marking a profound step toward the era of interstellar exploration.
