NASA: "jelly doughnut" Mars rock is just a rock
Posted: Sat, Feb 15, 2014, 9:38 AM ET (1438 GMT)
An unusual rock spotted by NASA's Opportunity rover last month dubbed the "jelly doughnut" is simply a rock kicked up by the rover's wheels, NASA said Friday. Scientists spotted the rock, formally named Pinnacle Island but widely called the "jelly doughnut" due to its appearance, in early January; the rock was not seen in an image of the same area taken a few days earlier. Scientists and the public speculated about the rock's origin; one person filed a lawsuit against NASA claiming that the rock was a fungus that NASA was not properly investigating. Scientists said Friday that Pinnacle Island was a fragment of a rock that had been run over and broken up by the rover. Opportunity is now moving up a slope that will tilt its solar panels towards the Sun during the winter season there.
An unusual rock spotted by NASA's Opportunity rover last month dubbed the "jelly doughnut" is simply a rock kicked up by the rover's wheels, NASA said Friday. Scientists spotted the rock, formally named Pinnacle Island but widely called the "jelly doughnut" due to its appearance, in early January; the rock was not seen in an image of the same area taken a few days earlier. Scientists and the public speculated about the rock's origin; one person filed a lawsuit against NASA claiming that the rock was a fungus that NASA was not properly investigating. Scientists said Friday that Pinnacle Island was a fragment of a rock that had been run over and broken up by the rover. Opportunity is now moving up a slope that will tilt its solar panels towards the Sun during the winter season there.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
SpaceX launches Starlink satellites in final launch of 2024
Posted: Sat, Jan 4 8:39 AM ET (1339 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Friday, January 10
Redwire Camera Technology to Launch Onboard Firefly Aerospace Blue Ghost Lunar Lander’s First Robotic Moon Mission to Deliver NASA Science
Business Wire — 6:18 am ET (1118 GMT) US Space Force Selects L3Harris to Design Resilient GPS Satellites
Inside GNSS — 6:18 am ET (1118 GMT) Rocket Lab on Track to Advance U.S. Defense Capabilities, Passing Major Milestone in Development of Spacecraft Constellation for Space Development Agency
Business Wire — 6:17 am ET (1117 GMT) In U.S.: Generals, spies and moguls cross their fingers for Bezos’ New Glenn
Aerospace America — 6:16 am ET (1116 GMT) Weather prompts Blue Origin to push back New Glenn rocket launch
UPI — 6:15 am ET (1115 GMT) |
