Elon Musk responds to viral claims that Space object 3I/ATLAS is an alien spaceship

Elon Musk has addressed the claims during a podcast appearance, after questions surged about 3I/ATLAS, the interstellar body first detected in July 2025.

While scientists describe 3I/ATLAS as a comet likely formed billions of years ago, some online users questioned whether it could be an engineered spacecraft.

The speculation began when astrophysicist Avi Loeb discussed the idea as a hypothetical teaching exercise, noting that if an alien craft wanted to mask a maneuver, it might do so near perihelion, when the object passed behind the Sun.

The comment quickly spread, prompting new waves of conspiracy theories.

Notably, the astronomers at NASA and SETI have dismissed the idea, stressing that observations so far show nothing unusual about 3I/ATLAS.

However, the debate gained fresh attention when Rogan asked the SpaceX CEO whether he believed there was “anything strange” about the object.

In response, Musk said he saw no evidence that 3I/ATLAS was anything other than a natural interstellar traveller, but added that the universe still holds “plenty of mysteries worth exploring.”

The object, which is travelling on a fast escape trajectory through the Solar System, is only the third confirmed interstellar visitor after ‘Oumuamua and Borisov.