Mysterious Asteroid's Odd Speed Fuels Spacecraft Theory

The near-Earth object 1998 KY26 is exhibiting an unusual acceleration, defying explanations based solely on gravity. This perplexing movement has ignited speculation that the roughly 36-foot-wide object could be a Soviet spacecraft, Phobos 1, which was lost in 1988.

Recent research published in Icarus by Georgia Institute of Technology scientists challenges the 'dark comet' hypothesis, suggesting the object is too warm for buried water ice to cause the observed propulsion. While other theories involving sunlight and heat radiation exist, Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb and his colleagues propose a compelling alternative.

Loeb's team has modeled the lost Phobos 1 spacecraft and found a strong match between the model's solar radiation reflection and observed data for 1998 KY26. They suggest this solar pressure could explain the object's trajectory.

Despite the intriguing findings, the theory remains unproven. However, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Hayabusa2 spacecraft is slated to rendezvous with 1998 KY26 in July 2031, an encounter that could finally reveal its true nature, potentially confirming Loeb's prediction of finding a 'Made in the U.S.S.R.' label.