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 - Exile On Main Street - 180g - Sealed - US - 2-LP vinyl set - £30.00, $37.50, €35.10 (New Item) (arrived 18-Apr-2024 16:57)on April 19, 2024 at 6:53 am
ROLLING STONES Exile On Main Street (2010 US remastered 18-track double LP pressed on 180gram Heavyweight Vinyl, originally released in 1972 and recorded in stages in London, LA and Keith Richards' mansion in France. Exile innovativelywove varying musical genres, instruments and even artists into a compelling rhythmic masterpiece, with guest appearances from an electric array of talent such as Dr. John, the late Billy Preston, pianist Nicky Hopkins and guitarist Mick Taylor.Includes the singles 'Tumbling Dice'/ 'Sweet Black Angel' and 'Happy'/ 'All Down The Line'. Gatefold picture sleeve with illustrated inners - still sealed) #Top 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time
- The Rolling Stones - Steel Wheels - Live - RSD 2020 - UK - 10" Picture Disc - £19.99, $24.99, €23.39 (New Item) (arrived 09-Apr-2024 17:33)on April 19, 2024 at 6:53 am
ROLLING STONES Steel Wheels - Live (Record Store Day 2020 UK/EU limited edition double A-side 10" PICTURE DISC featuring artwork designed by the same artist who created the original Steel Wheels album cover. Featuring two standout tracks from their upcoming concert film release, Rock And A Hard Place live from Atlantic City NJ, and Almost Hear You Sigh live in Tokyo. Housed inside its hype-stickered clear PVC sleeve)
- The Rolling Stones - Dirty Work - Stickered Shrink - UK - vinyl LP - £15.00, $18.75, €17.55 (Back In Stock) (arrived 28-Mar-2024 09:05)on April 19, 2024 at 6:53 am
ROLLING STONES Dirty Work (1986 UK 10-track vinyl LP, the eighteenth album including the singles Harlem Shuffle & One Hit [To the Body]. The vinyl comes issued in the glossy picture sleeve which comes with the illustrated lyric card inner and retains its open red shrinkwrap with hype sticker to the front)
- The Rolling Stones - Love You Live - Shrink - UK - 2-LP vinyl set - £35.00, $43.75, €40.95 (Back In Stock) (arrived 28-Mar-2024 09:06)on April 19, 2024 at 6:53 am
THE ROLLING STONES Love You Live (1987 Nice Price series UK issue of the 1977 18-track double live LP, barcoded single pocket picture sleeve with series inners. The sleeve retains it's opened shrinkwrap and therefore shows very little signs of age whilst the vinyl is in 'near as new' condition)
- The Rolling Stones - Urban Jungle: Europe 1990 + 'Bud' insert - UK - tour programme - £15.00, $18.75, €17.55 (New Item) (arrived 28-Mar-2024 09:23)on April 19, 2024 at 6:53 am
ROLLING STONES Urban Jungle: Europe 1990 (Official 1990 UK 28-page 14" x 11" glossy tour programme featuring superb pictorial discography featuring thirty-nine 2" x 2" colour images of album artwork, fold-out centre page picture spread plus aseparate 'Bud Beer' picture insert)
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