NASA, Robert Downey Jr Unveil Rolling Stones Mars Rock

The rock in the center of this image was tossed about 3 feet (1 meter) by NASA's InSight spacecraft as it touched down on Mars on November 26, 2018. The rock, which is a little bigger than a golf ball, was later nicknamed "Rolling Stones Rock" in honor of The Rolling Stones. NASA/JPL-Caltech.

Robert Downey Jr., famously known for playing Tony Stark and Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, announced that NASA has named a rock on Mars after The Rolling Stones. The actor made the announcement right before the band kicked off their concert at the Rose Bowl stadium in California.

Prior to Downey’s revelation, he teased about the mysterious surprise through a cryptic tweet. Hours before the event, shared a short video via Twitter to talk about a riddle involving NASA, The Rolling Stones and the ruling planet of his birth sign.

Downey’s birthday is on April 4, which means his zodiac sign is Aries. The ruling planet of this sign is Mars.

The actor confirmed that his announcement had something to do with Mars shortly after he appeared at the Rose Bowl stadium. Right before The Rolling Stones took the stage for their performance, Downey revealed that NASA named a rock on Mars after the band.

According to NASA, the space agency’s InSight lander came across this particular Martian rock, now known as Rolling Stones Rock, shortly after it landed on the Red Planet in November last year.

After reaching the surface, the lander’s thrusters disturbed the surrounding area and caused a small rock, which is about the size of a golf ball, to roll for a couple of feet on the ground.

“A little larger than a golf ball, the rock appeared to have rolled about 3 feet on Nov. 26, 2018, propelled by Insight’s thrusters as the spacecraft touched down on Mars to study the Red Planet’s deep interior,” NASA said in a statement.

“In images taken by InSight the next day, several divots in the orange-red soil can be seen trailing Rolling Stones Rock,” the agency added. “It’s the farthest NASA has seen a rock roll while landing a spacecraft on another planet.”

The Rolling Stones members Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and Charlie Watts thanked NASA for the wonderful honor for having a Martian rock named after them. They said it was a great way to kick off their “Stones No Filter” tour.

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