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 Sticky Fingers (1971 US 10-track vinyl LP in the Andy Warhol designed, top opening, die-cut picture sleeve with working brass EXCEL brand 'zipper'. The cover shows surprisingly few signs of the usual shelfwear, whilst the disc shows a few light signs of cosmetic wear COC59100) #Top 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time
- The Rolling Stones - Their Satanic Majesties Request - 5th - UK - vinyl LP - £25.00, $32.25, €29.75 (New Item) (arrived 19-Jul-2024 16:27)on July 27, 2024 at 1:26 am
ROLLING STONES Their Satanic Majesties Request (Circa 1974 UK issue of the 1967 10-track stereo LP on a boxed grey blue label with label matrix the right way up & the publishing date at the bottom, front laminated gatefold picture sleeve with mono/stereo indicator hole on the back & blue-for-stereo inner. The sleeve shows minimal wear & despite a minor cosmetic mark on the label, the vinyl is clean & in Excellent condition TXS103)
- The Rolling Stones - Beggars Banquet - 180gm Vinyl - UK - vinyl LP - £29.99, $38.69, €35.69 (New Item) (arrived 17-Jul-2024 11:06)on July 27, 2024 at 1:26 am
ROLLING STONES Beggars Banquet (2017 UK/EU limited edition remastered 10-track LP issue of their 1968 album pressed on 180gram Vinyl with light blue Decca labels, including the hits Sympathy For The Devil and Street Fighting Man. 'Toilet' gatefold picture sleeve. The sleeve reveals minimal signs of wear and the vinyl is in Near Mint condition) #Top 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time
- The Rolling Stones - Exile On Main St - German - 2-LP vinyl set - £75.00, $96.75, €89.25 (Back In Stock) (arrived 18-Jul-2024 07:28)on July 27, 2024 at 1:26 am
ROLLING STONES Exile On Main St (Late 70s German issue of the classic 1972 18-track double LP including original picture/tracklisting inners, internal pocket gatefold picture sleeve. The sleeve shows just the lightest shelfwear & the vinyl is immaculate)
- The Rolling Stones - It's Only Rock 'n Roll - EX - UK - vinyl LP - £15.00, $19.35, €17.85 (New Item) (arrived 18-Jul-2024 11:48)on July 27, 2024 at 1:26 am
ROLLING STONES It's Only Rock 'N Roll (1974 UK 10-track LP, complete with the illustrated credits inner, matte picture sleeve. The sleeve shows a little light shelfwear & the vinyl remains in Excellent condition with minimal play COC59103)
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