Key Takeaways The images now tell a story that no agency can safely ignore. Our defense posture was built for rocks and radiation, not structured interstellar objects. December 19 is no longer a date on NASA’s approach chart—it’s a global checkpoint. USA HERALD – The United States now finds itself navigating a moment unlike anything As 3I/ATLAS nears its December 19 approach, new anomalies raise questions about U.S. planetary defense readiness and Space Force Vector 2025 preparedness.