A rock has been named after The Rock.
The NASA ground team that monitors and supervises the Perseverance rover that is on Mars has named the rover’s latest “companion”.
Over the weekend, a Martian rock has become lodged in one of rover’s wheels. This happens quite often but none have caused any serious issues with the rover. The ground team named the rock “Dwayne” after Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
The rover shared this post on X:
Hi, little fella. Looks like I’ve picked up another rock friend that my operations team has named Dwayne.
My wheels pick up rocks from time to time. They’re harmless and will eventually fall out as I drive around.
Until then, it’s nice to have a companion with me. pic.twitter.com/USCJ5GJKon
— NASA’s Perseverance Mars Rover (@NASAPersevere) May 29, 2024
NASA describes Perseverance’s mission as: “The Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover searches for signs of ancient microbial life, to advance NASA’s quest to explore the past habitability of Mars. The rover is collecting core samples of Martian rock and soil (broken rock and soil), for potential pickup by a future mission that would bring them to Earth for detailed study.”
You can read more about Perseverance and its mission here and follow the official X account at @NASAPersevere.
TOP PHOTO: The Perseverance rover and ‘Dwyane’. Courtesy: NASA’s Perseverance Mars Rover account on X.
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