Funding Flows into Planetary Defense Systems Following the 3I/ATLAS Panic

The question marks raised by the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS, which entered our solar system, have benefited projects aimed at defending the planet. Funds directed toward space defense systems are increasing.

3I/ATLAS, the interstellar object coming from outside our solar system and first observed in July, has not fallen off the agenda since then. Confusing minds with both its trajectory, which appears to be designed, and its structure that does not fit customary comets, 3I/ATLAS is the subject of many conspiracy theories. Moreover, these theories are finding resonance in academic circles. For instance, Avi Loeb, an astronomer at Harvard University, suggests that this could be an alien craft passing through the solar system and conducting observations. Although the majority of the scientific world opposes this idea, these scenarios seem to have worried state officials. Indeed, a significant increase is observed in investments made in space defense systems following 3I/ATLAS.

European Space Agency (ESA) Increases Observation Budget by 30%

The new budget announced by the European Space Agency (ESA) at its meeting in Bremen this week confirms this picture. Member countries approved a record spending package of 22.1 billion euros for the agency to use over the next three years. This figure represents the highest budget in ESA history, as well as a 30% increase compared to the previous period.

Within the scope of the new budget announced by ESA, the 1.35 billion euro European Resilience from Space Program will also be commissioned. This program aims to both strengthen secure communication provided via satellites and develop infrastructures that can detect potential space threats early. Additionally, critical defense projects such as the RAMSES mission, which will be sent to the asteroid Apophis in 2029, will continue without slowing down.

The timing of the budget increase is remarkable: Just one day after the decision was taken, the International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN), affiliated with the United Nations, launched a two-month global defense exercise centered on 3I/ATLAS. The exercise will be one of the most comprehensive projects designed to test how the world should act in coordination when an interstellar object enters the solar system.

Although 3I/ATLAS will approach Earth by about 270 million kilometers at the end of December, there is no risk of impact. Nevertheless, the real-time tracking of this event by hundreds of institutions carries great importance for raising the level of preparedness against objects that could be more dangerous in the future. In particular, data collection, orbit calculation, international communication protocols, and early warning mechanisms will be the main focuses of this exercise.

You Might Also Like;

• We Selected 10 Series Similar to Stranger Things for Those Who Love It
• Where and How is Silver Used in Electric Vehicles?
• Hyundai Unveils Its Multi-Purpose Wheeled Robot