"In a blog post, Loeb argued that its perihelion is the "optimal time for either acceleration or deceleration by an impulse from an engine, thanks to the gravitational assist from the Sun," in what he calls the ultimate "acid test." He's even suggested that the object could release "mini-probes " to continue to investigate the solar system on behalf of an intelligent alien race."
"In a separate post last week, the astronomer pointed to the Oberth effect, the physics principle which determines that a rocket engine generates more energy when it's fired at a higher speed, to suggest that 3I/ATLAS - if it's an "alien mothership" - may utilize the Sun's boost to "continue along its original gravitational path and ultimately exit the Solar system.""
"But finding out if any of that actually happens will be difficult, he concedes, since "we cannot observe 3I/ATLAS from Earth at this opportune time" as it's currently passing behind the Sun. Nonetheless, Loeb is calling on policymakers to "take seriously the potential threat from a black swan event involving an unusually massive object moving along the ecliptic plane like 3I/ATLAS.""
Interstellar object 3I/ATLAS reached perihelion at about 126 million miles from the Sun. Claims include that perihelion is the optimal time for acceleration or deceleration via an engine impulse using solar gravitational assist and the Oberth effect, potentially allowing the object to continue its original trajectory and exit the Solar System. Additional claims propose the object could release mini-probes to investigate the system while appearing as a natural carbon dioxide ice comet. Observational confirmation is difficult because the object is passing behind the Sun. Policymakers are urged to consider a low-probability, high-impact 'Trojan horse' threat from such objects.
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