
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 - Black And Blue - 1st - UK - vinyl LP - £30.00, $36.90, €33.90 (New Item) (arrived 01-Feb-2023 14:29)on February 2, 2023 at 11:16 am
THE ROLLING STONES Black & Blue (1976 UK first press 8-track LP, including the singles Fool To Cry and Hot Stuff, complete with album credits inner, gatefold picture sleeve. The sleeve shows just a little light shelfwear and the vinyl looks barely played COC59106)
- The Rolling Stones - Flowers - Royal Sound - 1st - German - vinyl LP - £50.00, $61.50, €56.50 (New Item) (arrived 31-Jan-2023 12:50)on February 2, 2023 at 11:16 am
ROLLING STONES Flowers (Scarce 1967 German first press 12-track stereo LP on the red Decca label with the 'Royal Sound' logo present, fully laminated picture sleeve which also has the 'Royal Sound' logo on the reverse. The sleeve is Excellent with some light edge discolouring or minor shelf wear, the vinyl is clean & grades EX/EX- with a few faint paper hairlines not affecting play SLK16487-P)
- The Rolling Stones - Story Of The Stones - 1st - UK - 2-LP vinyl set - £20.00, $24.60, €22.60 (New Item) (arrived 30-Jan-2023 15:02)on February 2, 2023 at 11:16 am
ROLLING STONES Story Of The Stones (1982 UK 30-track double LP featuring original classics by Mick & co, gatefold picture sleeve with liner notes by John Tobler. The sleeve shows just a little light shelfwear & the vinyl looks barely played NE1201)
- The Rolling Stones - Flashpoint - Cover Stickers - UK - vinyl LP - £125.00, $153.75, €141.25 (New Item) (arrived 30-Jan-2023 15:21)on February 2, 2023 at 11:16 am
ROLLING STONES Flashpoint (1991 UK 15-track live LP, pressed in Holland for the UK market, recorded on the 'Steel Wheels' tour, complete with a fantastic 12-page full colour photo booklet & housed in a stickered picture sleeve with two stickers on the front & one on the back. The sleeve displays minimal wear and the vinyl is Near Mint)
- The Rolling Stones - No Stone Unturned - 1st - EX - UK - vinyl LP - £50.00, $61.50, €56.50 (New Item) (arrived 30-Jan-2023 15:30)on February 2, 2023 at 11:16 am
ROLLING STONES No Stone Unturned (1973 UK 12-track stereo vinyl LP compilation on the blue label with silver print & boxed Decca logo, front laminated picture sleeve. The sleeve displays only light general signs of wear with a few creases to the laminate and the non-laminated back has a very few signs of wear. The labels have a few light spindle marks whilst the vinyl remains excellent, showing few signs of play SKL5173)
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