Congresswoman Demands NASA Release Data on Speeding Space Object

Concerns have escalated regarding a Manhattan-sized object, designated as 3I/ATLAS, which is reportedly accelerating toward Earth. In response, Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna of Florida has called on NASA to release data and images related to this interstellar object to enhance public understanding of its trajectory and characteristics.

In a post on X, Luna emphasized the significance of the data for scientific comprehension. She stated, “I write to request the release of specific observational data related to 3I/ATLAS, recently captured by NASA missions. This information is of great importance to advancing our understanding of interstellar visitors and their interaction with our solar system.” The congresswoman specifically requested images from the HiRISE camera aboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, taken between October 2 and 3, 2025. She also sought additional data from the Mars Orbiter, the Perseverance Rover, and other Mars missions that may have detected unusual activity around that time.

The urgency of Luna’s request follows reports that 3I/ATLAS has unexpectedly increased its speed, accelerating from 130,000 mph to 152,000 mph. Experts have noted an “extra kick” propelling the object away from its predicted path, a phenomenon that appears to defy the gravitational influence of the sun. The sun, containing nearly all of the solar system’s mass, exerts a significant gravitational pull that generally ensures predictable movements of celestial bodies.

While NASA attributes the speed increase primarily to solar gravity, scientists remain puzzled over the apparent deviation from the object’s expected trajectory. Most experts consider 3I/ATLAS to be a comet that has traveled from another star, potentially over billions of years.

Theoretical physicist Avi Loeb has proposed an alternative explanation, suggesting that the object could be an “extraterrestrial artifact.” He argues that the acceleration and distinctive blue hue of 3I/ATLAS might indicate its artificial origins. If the object were a typical comet, it would likely melt under the sun’s heat, releasing gas jets that could alter its path. However, astronomers have yet to observe sufficient gas emissions from 3I/ATLAS to confirm its classification as a comet.

As the object approaches its closest point to Earth in just six weeks, Loeb believes that the absence of a detectable gas cloud could imply that the recent speed increase was generated by an extraterrestrial rocket engine. The situation is evolving, and both the scientific community and the public are watching closely for any further developments regarding 3I/ATLAS and its implications for our understanding of interstellar objects.

With the increasing scrutiny surrounding 3I/ATLAS, the demand for transparency from NASA highlights the delicate balance between public curiosity and scientific inquiry. As researchers work to unravel the mysteries of this accelerating space object, the call for data release underscores the importance of clarity in the face of cosmic phenomena that challenge our understanding of space and physics.