From Planet Rock.
57 years into their glittering career, The Rolling Stones have been bestowed with the ultimate honour – yes, a rock on Mars has been named after them.
Back on 26th November 2018, NASA’s InSight spacecraft touched down on Mars and sent a small rock, sized slightly bigger than a golf ball, flying a metre across the barren red surface of the planet.
NASA aptly dubbed rock in question the ‘Rolling Stones Rock’, as they explain: “Scientists working with NASA’s Mars rovers have given lots of unofficial nicknames to rocks and other geological features.
“Doing so makes it easier for them to discuss different objects and refer to them in science papers. So, while the name Rolling Stones Rock is informal, it will appear on working maps of the Red Planet.”
Geologist Matt Golombek, from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, enthuses: “I’ve seen a lot of Mars rocks over my career. This one probably won’t be in a lot of scientific papers, but it’s definitely one of the coolest.”
Hollywood actor Robert Downey Jr. took to the stage before The Rolling Stones’ show at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California last night (22nd August) to officially reveal the rock’s name to the public.
The 92,542-capacity stadium, which hosted the 1994 FIFA World Cup Final, is just a stone’s throw away from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Mick Jagger later told the audience during the band’s set: “NASA has given us something we have always dreamed of, our very own rock on Mars. I can’t believe it… I want to bring it back on put it on our mantelpiece.”
NASA is using its robotic missions to Mars to help prepare for eventual human exploration of the Red Planet.
Rolling Stones Rock on Mars (centre-ish) © NASA/JPL-Caltech
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- The Rolling Stones - In Mono - Colour Vinyl Edition 16-LP Box Set - Sealed - UK - vinyl box set - £399.99, $511.99, €463.99 (New Item) (arrived 10-Apr-2025 16:00)on April 11, 2025 at 3:39 am
THE ROLLING STONES In Mono (2023 UK/EU limited Colour Vinyl Edition 16-LP box set, the long out-of-print and in-demand collection comprising 14 studio albums in mono, plus exclusive Stray Cats compilation album, featuringmore than 150 tracks spanning the era between 1963 and 1969. Each LP is presented on 180-gram heavyweight coloured vinyl, and includes a 48-page book with rare photos and essay by David Fricke. Housed inside an individually hand-numbered deluxepicture box with insert and metallic hype sticker, factory sealed. Recommended)
- The Rolling Stones - Hackney Diamonds - Picture Disc Edition - UK - picture disc LP - £74.99, $95.99, €86.99 (New Item) (arrived 04-Apr-2025 16:00)on April 11, 2025 at 3:39 am
THE ROLLING STONES Hackney Diamonds (2023 UK/EU limited Picture Disc Edition 12-track LP, their hugely anticipated first original studio album since 2005. With an all-star line-upof guest appearances from the late, great Charlie Watts,Bill Wyman, Lady Gaga, Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney and Elton John. Clear sleeve with large title sticker)
- The Rolling Stones - Metamorphosis - UK - CD album - £15.00, $19.20, €17.40 (Back In Stock) (arrived 03-Apr-2025 16:00)on April 11, 2025 at 3:39 am
ROLLING STONES Metamorphosis (2002 UK 16-track ABKCO remastered series hybrid SACD [Super Audio CD - playable on all SACD & CD players] within a fold out digipak picture sleeve. The digipak shows a little light shelfwear whilst the disc looksunplayed)
- The Rolling Stones - London Single Digest - Japanese - vinyl LP - Promo - £150.00, $192.00, €174.00 (Back In Stock) (arrived 03-Apr-2025 16:00)on April 11, 2025 at 3:39 am
THE ROLLING STONES London Single Digest (1960s Japanese promotional only 12-track sampler vinyl LP with custom black-on-white labels showing the tracklisting and the various release dates, features two Rolling Stones tracks; Paint It Black andLong Long While from the Japanese single release, catalogue number TOP-1053, as well as tracks by The Animals, The Small Faces, Ike & Tina Turner, Gigliola Cinquetti and others, King Record die-cut promo-only sleeve. The sleeve has a split tothe bottom and the vinyl is Near Mint ILBT758)
- The Rolling Stones - Almost Hear You Sigh - EX - UK - 7" vinyl - £15.00, $19.20, €17.40 (New Item) (arrived 03-Apr-2025 16:00)on April 11, 2025 at 3:39 am
ROLLING STONES Almost Hear You Sigh (1990 UK 3-track 7" single, also including Wish I'd Never Met You & the previously unreleased Mixed Emotions. The picture sleeve shows a little minor creasing & the vinyl is Excellent with few signs of play)
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