NASA must try 'Oberth maneuver' on Comet 3I/ATLAS: Astrophysicist

 The interstellar object 3I/ATLAS, being the third interstellar visitor to come into our view, had the attention of every eye on the planet. Its trajectory had recently put the object behind the Sun, putting it out of our view. This so-called "solar conjunction" might need a technological way around to study it, according to Medium. On October 21, 2025, 3I/ATLAS reached solar conjunction and would make its closest approach to the Sun, or perihelion, on October 29. This sudden disappearance was being questioned in terms of the authenticity of the object as a natural object. It added to the speculations floating around about the object being alien equipment.

A Comet or an 'Alien Mothership?'

The doubt stemmed from the fact that the optimal point for a maneuver to speed up or slow down a spacecraft was at its closest approach to a massive object. The gain or loss of kinetic energy could be maximized by an impulse in the direction of the peak velocity or opposite to it. Due to this so-called "Oberth effect," the best time for a spacecraft engine to burn its fuel was when its orbital velocity was greatest. It was linked to a theory that 3I/ATLAS could be a "mothership" carrying smaller probes. If the object was designed by an ETI, this perihelion was the right time for the powerful high-thrust "Oberth maneuver."

The Causes for Reasonable Doubt

Knewz.com noted that this required propulsion from the center of a strong gravitational field and could deploy smaller vessels to the inner planets. Not to forget the solar conjunction, which was providing the perfect cover from Earth's observation tools. The instigator of the theory, Avi Loeb, detailed a few reasons for his belief, including its trajectory aligning wth the planets and its jet tracing sunwards. The contents of the gas plume, its trajectory passing by major planets, extreme negative polarization, and a direction coincident with the radio "Wow! Signal." These aspects created the perfect setup to rule the interstellar object as an extraterrestrial device.

The Sun Could Be an Energy Source

The perihelion could be the perfect test to try out the "alien mothership" hypothesis. Scientists were also aware that when comets approached the Sun, they heated up and released volatile gases and dust from the surface. 3I/ATLAS was also experiencing this, and the distance from the Sun would create varying outgassing. The closest approach would likely yield something interesting, which could reveal details about its original environment, according to IFLScience. According to Harvard professor Avi Loeb, we needed to bypass this impossibility in sight, as the object having an alien technological origin confirmed the Oberth maneuver.

Causing a Stir Amongst Theorists

The object was not only using the Sun as a hideout but also its gravity to alter course and speed. Loeb was one of the individuals who created an uproar in the conspiracy theory group since the discovery of the object. He went so far as to suggest, "If you want to take a vacation, take it before [October 29], because who knows what will happen?" in a recent interview. "As of now, I assign a 30–40% likelihood that 3I/ATLAS does not have a fully natural origin," he wrote previously. "This low-probability scenario includes the possibility of a black swan event akin to a Trojan Horse, where a technological object masquerades as a natural comet," he added.