NASA Urged to Redirect Juno Probe to Study Interstellar Object 3I/Atlas in 2026

Speedy Summary

• The interstellar object 3I/ATLAS, estimated to be 11-20 kilometers wide, is expected to pass within 53.56 million km of Jupiter on March 16, 2026. It is considered the largest interstellar rock in the inner solar system in the last 10,000 years.
• Scientists propose using NASA’s Juno probe near Jupiter for a close flyby to study the object’s composition and behavior closely.A calculated maneuver including two thrust impulses and a Jupiter Oberth effect could bring juno as close as ~27 million km from the object using minimal propellant reserves.
• Current observations suggest it lacks a visible comet tail-attributed to viewing geometry and low dust production-and shows reddened colors typical of certain rocks.
• Avi Loeb gives it a “Loeb scale” score of 6, indicating notable anomalies but insufficient evidence for technological origins.
• Congresswoman anna paulina Luna supports efforts for Juno’s involvement through advocacy within NASA leadership.

Indian opinion analysis
The proposal to utilize existing space assets like Juno reflects innovative resourcefulness that can advance scientific inquiry without extensive investment in new infrastructure. Observing an interstellar object-an occurrence expected only once every 10,000 years-is critical to expanding our understanding of deep-space phenomena and assessing their natural versus possibly artificial origins. For India’s own burgeoning space program, such endeavors underscore lessons in repurposing older missions creatively for secondary objectives while remaining cost-effective.

if confirmed viable by NASA leadership, studies on objects like 3I/ATLAS could offer insights into planetary composition beyond our solar system-an area increasingly relevant given similar Indian interests such as Chandrayaan missions aimed at unlocking mysteries beyond Earth. Scientific collaboration with international agencies for data sharing may also emerge as beneficial pathways going forward.

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