American space agency National Aeronautics and Space Administration has given Indian names to certain types of rocks on Mars, a senior planetary geologist at the space agency's Mars Mission said on Monday.
"We shall disclose the names soon after NASA gives clearance to make this classified information public," NASA planetary geologist Amitabha Ghosh, currently on a three-city tour to India, told PTI on Monday.
Ghosh said the rocks were named in consultation with Indian geophysicists and astrophysicists.
For the first time, a four-member team from NASA, including planetary geologists Ghosh, Dr Michael Wyatt, astrogeologist Dr James Rice and Dr Nicole Schultz are in India to further space science research.
"The idea is to hold talks at scientific organisations and planetaria to create awareness about space science research," Ghosh, the only Asian on the mission, said.
As members of the Mars Explorer Rover Mission, the four have been witness to the activities of Spirit and Opportunity rovers that landed on Mars.
The team would conduct awareness campaigns in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore, he added.