NASA's Curiosity Rover Spots 'Star Trek' Starfleet Emblem on Mars
While this whimsical rock discovery may not be the first, as previous sightings included a "doughnut," an "avocado," and even a "bear," it adds a touch of science fiction to the rover's mission.
NASA's Curiosity rover, continuing its impressive journey on Mars in its 12th year, recently made a delightful discovery that sent ripples of excitement through space enthusiasts.
Captured in a photograph taken by Curiosity's left navigation camera on January 9, a Mars rock bore a striking resemblance to the iconic delta-shaped emblem of Starfleet officers in the beloved science fiction series "Star Trek."
Amateur astronomer Stuart Atkinson was quick to spot the Trekkie symbol and shared his amusing find on social media. Of course, in reality, the image is a mere coincidence as the rock naturally took on this iconic shape due to Martian winds and erosion.
I bet the Star Trek fans on the @MarsCuriosity team smiled like Cheshire Cats when they saw this new image appear on their screens... :-)
— Stuart Atkinson (@mars_stu) January 10, 2024
Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech pic.twitter.com/SdWyq4Sc5P
Curiosity, which touched down on Mars on August 5, 2012, has been diligently exploring the Gale Crater and ascending the challenging slopes of Mount Sharp, unraveling mysteries about the planet's past and potential habitability.
While this whimsical rock discovery may not be the first, as previous sightings included a "doughnut," an "avocado," and even a "bear," it adds a touch of science fiction to the rover's mission.