NASA Names Rock On Mars After The Rolling Stones Rock Band

PASADENA, CA -- In honor of the Rolling Stones return to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Thursday, the legendary band was given an out-of-this-world tribute as NASA named a rock on Mars the ``Rolling Stones Rock.''

The rock, which is about the size of a golf ball, was propelled about three feet along Mars' surface by the thrusters from NASA's InSight lander as the spacecraft touched down on the planet on Nov. 26, 2018, according to a statement from the space agency.

Photos taken by Insight the following day showed several divots in the planet's orange and red soil trailing behind Rolling Stones Rock. It's the farthest NASA has seen a rock move while landing a spacecraft on another planet, the statement said.

``This is definitely a milestone in our long and eventful history,'' the band said in a statement. "A huge thank you to everyone at NASA for making it happen.''

``Iron Man'' actor Robert Downey Jr. made the announcement at Thursday night's concert at the Rose Bowl before the band took the stage.

The rock's name is unofficial because official scientific names can be designated only by the International Atomic Union, but Rolling Stones Rock will appear in working maps of Mars, NASA said.

City News Service contributed to this report.