NASA on Friday announced that it has named a rock on Mars in honour of the iconic English band, The Rolling Stones. The space agency shared the news on Twitter, revealing that the "Rolling Stones Rock" was a stone that was sent rolling after NASA's InSight lander touched down on the Mars' surface.
"Hello '@RollingStones Rock'. Who could hang a name on you? Um... us!"When @NASAInsight touched down on the Red Planet, its engines sent a rock rolling across Mars' surface. We named it for the band," NASA tweeted along with an animated video describing the incident.
The most ambitious crossover announcement in space?@NASAInSight just named "@RollingStones Rock" on Mars in honor of the band. Watch @RobertDowneyJr announce the @NASA news live on stage at the Rose Bowl ahead of tonight's concert. https://t.co/868Gbervw1 #MarsRocks pic.twitter.com/xETMzS0H9y
— NASA JPL (@NASAJPL) August 23, 2019
Hollywood star Robert Downey Jr also shared the news after he crashed the band's concert here. "Cross-pollinating science and a legendary rock band is always a good thing..." said Downey Jr at the concert.
The popular band, which consists of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood, were delighted to hear the news."What a wonderful way to celebrate the 'Stones No Filter' tour arriving in Pasadena. This is definitely a milestone in our long and eventful history. A huge thank you to everyone at NASA for making it happen," they said in a statement.