Elon Musk Gifts PM Modi Heatshield Tile from SpaceX’s Starship Test Flight
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk at the Blair House in Washington, engaging in discussions on space, mobility, technology, and governance. During the meeting, Musk, who is overseeing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under the Trump administration, presented Modi with a unique gift—a heatshield tile that was part of SpaceX’s Starship test flight in October last year.
It was also a delight to meet Mr. @elonmusk’s family and to talk about a wide range of subjects! pic.twitter.com/0WTEqBaVpT
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 13, 2025
The tile, a crucial component of the spacecraft’s re-entry system, was engraved with the words: “Starship Flight Test 5. October 13, 2024.” The gift, a symbol of cutting-edge aerospace technology, drew significant attention.
Had a very good meeting with @elonmusk in Washington DC. We discussed various issues, including those he is passionate about such as space, mobility, technology and innovation. I talked about India’s efforts towards reform and furthering ‘Minimum Government, Maximum Governance.’ pic.twitter.com/7xNEqnxERZ
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 13, 2025
Significance of the Heatshield Tile
The hexagonal ceramic heatshield tiles used on SpaceX’s Starship are designed to withstand the extreme temperatures generated during atmospheric re-entry. The tile presented to Modi was part of Starship Flight Test 5, which took place on October 13, 2024.
The test flight was a milestone for SpaceX, particularly for successfully capturing the Super Heavy booster at the launch site in South Texas—an achievement that marks progress in Musk’s vision for reusable spaceflight technology.
PM Modi’s Gift to Musk’s Children
In exchange, Prime Minister Modi presented Musk’s children with a collection of Indian literary classics. The three books gifted included:
- “The Crescent Moon” by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore
- “The Great RK Narayan Collection”, featuring works by the renowned Indian author
- “Panchatantra” by Pandit Vishnu Sharma, a timeless collection of fables
Images shared after the meeting showed Musk’s children reading these books, reflecting an exchange of culture alongside the discussions on technology and innovation.
Discussions on Innovation and Governance
Following the meeting, PM Modi took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to share insights from their conversation.
“Had a very good meeting with Elon Musk in Washington DC. We discussed various issues, including those he is passionate about such as space, mobility, technology, and innovation. I talked about India’s efforts towards reform and furthering ‘Minimum Government, Maximum Governance.'”
The Prime Minister also expressed his pleasure in meeting Musk’s family, noting that their discussions covered a wide range of subjects.
Previous Meetings and Strengthening Ties
This meeting marks another chapter in the ongoing dialogue between Modi and Musk. The two had previously met in 2015, when the Prime Minister visited Tesla’s facility in San Jose and received a personal tour from Musk. Their latest interaction further highlights the growing collaboration between India and global technology leaders.
As Musk continues to expand his interests in India’s mobility and technology sectors, this meeting underscores the significance of India’s role in global innovation and governance.
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