Direct Spacecraft Exploration of 3I ATLAS with Marshall Eubanks

3I/ATLAS, the newly discovered mysterious interstellar object is making its way through the solar system and spacecraft already in flight may be our only chance to gather critical data before it slips behind the Sun.3I/ATLAS is only the third known interstellar object to pass through our solar system. In this Event Horizon bonus episode, John Michael Godier speaks with Marshall Eubanks, lead author of the paper “3I/ATLAS (C/2025 N1): Direct Spacecraft Exploration of a Possible Relic of Planetary Formation at Cosmic Noon.” They discuss why spacecraft already in flight—such as Psyche, JUICE, and even Mars orbiters—could provide the only opportunity to directly study this mysterious interstellar object before it vanishes back into deep space.3I/ATLAS (C/2025 N1): Direct Spacecraft Exploration of a Possible Relic of Planetary Formation at "Cosmic Noon"https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.1576800:00 – What is 3I ATLAS?02:45 – Why this interstellar object is unique06:10 – Origins of 3I ATLAS in the Milky Way’s thick disk09:25 – What “Cosmic Noon” tells us about planetary formation13:40 – Why 3I ATLAS is different from Oumuamua and Borisov17:15 – How close will it pass to the Sun and planets?21:05 – Spacecraft already in position: Psyche, JUICE, Mars orbiters26:30 – Can Europa Clipper, Hera, or Lucy sample the tail?30:55 – The challenges of observing from Earth34:20 – What science we could gain from a probe flyby39:45 – Why time is running out to study 3I ATLAS44:10 – What we could learn about planetary formation and chemistry49:30 – Astrobiology and the search for organics in 3I ATLAS53:20 – Why this may be our only chance to learn the truthYouTube Membership: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz3qvETKooktNgCvvheuQDw/joinPodcast: hhttps://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/john-michael-godier/subscribeApple: https://apple.co/3CS7rjTMore JMG https://www.youtube.com/c/JohnMichaelGodierWant to support the channel?Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/EventHorizonShowFollow us at other places!@JMGEventHorizonMusic:https://stellardrone.bandcamp.com/https://migueljohnson.bandcamp.com/https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/https://aeriumambient.bandcamp.com/FOOTAGE:NASAESA/HubbleESO - M.KornmesserESO - L.CalcadaESO - Jose Francisco Salgado (josefrancisco.org)NAOJUniversity of WarwickGoddard Visualization StudioLangley Research CenterPixabay