Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The interstellar object 3I/ATLAS is expected to arrive at a distance of 53.56(±0.45) million km (0.358±0.003 au) from Jupiter on 16 March 2026. We show that applying a total thrust ΔV of 2.6755kms−1 to the lower perijove on 9 September 2025 and then executing a Jupiter Oberth Maneuver can bring the Juno spacecraft from its orbit around Jupiter to intercept the path of 3I/ATLAS on 14 March 2026. We further show that it is possible for Juno to come much closer to 3I/ATLAS (~27 million km) with 110 kg of remaining propellant, merely 5.4% of the initial fuel reservoir. We find that for low available ΔV, there is no particular benefit in the application of a double impulse (for example, to reach ~27 million km from 3I/ATLAS); however, if Juno has a higher ΔV capability, there is a significant advantage of a second impulse, typically saving propellant by a factor of a half. A close fly-by might allow us to probe the nature of 3I/ATLAS far better than telescopes on Earth.
Source: Aerospace
Authors: Abraham Loeb, Adam Hibberd, Adam Crowl
Institution: Harvard University
Language: English
Subfield: Aerospace Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,896
OpenAlex ID: W4414409046