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 - Live At The Wiltern - 2CD + Blu-Ray Disc - Sealed - UK - 2-CD album set - £22.99, $28.74, €26.90 (New Item) (arrived 19-Apr-2024 14:09)on April 20, 2024 at 3:30 am
THE ROLLING STONES Live At The Wiltern (2024 UK/EU limited edition 2CD + Blu-Ray Disc package, their 2002 Los Angeles 20-song performance full of live rarities including Stray Cat Blues, No Expectations and Everybody Needs Somebody To Love with Solomon Burke. The 112-minute Blu-Ray disc contains the same track list as the two CDs with video presented in 1080i | 16:9 and audio in LPCM Stereo and DTS-HD Master. Housed inside a black & gold 4-panel fold-out softpack, factory sealed)
- The Rolling Stones - Metamorphosis - 1st - VG - UK - vinyl LP - £15.00, $18.75, €17.55 (New Item) (arrived 11-Apr-2024 10:43)on April 20, 2024 at 3:30 am
ROLLING STONES Metamorphosis (1975 UK 16-track LP on the 'boxed' Decca logo label, housed in a matte picture sleeve with Andrew Oldham's poetic notes on the reverse. The sleeve is Very Good and shows some cosmetic wear & light ring wear scuffing & the vinyl shows with the odd light sign of play SKL5212)
- 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 20, 2024 at 3:30 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 20, 2024 at 3:30 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)
- The Rolling Stones - 1965/70 - Nineteen Sixty Five/Seventy - EX - Italian - vinyl LP - £20.00, $25.00, €23.40 (New Item) (arrived 28-Mar-2024 13:08)on April 20, 2024 at 3:30 am
ROLLING STONES 1965/70 - Nineteen Sixty Five/Seventy (1984 Italian 14-track LP compilation in the Successo series, picture sleeve with album notes in Italian. The cover edge and ring wear, whilst the vinyl looks seldom played)
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