Elon Musk’s ‘space relic’ gift to PM Modi sparks buzz online

*”PM Modi Receives Heat Shield Tile from SpaceX’s Starship Rocket, Musk Presented with Book Collection in Return”*

Washinton DC: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has received a unique gift from Elon Musk, sparking widespread speculation online. Reports indicate that the world’s richest man presented Modi with a piece of the world’s largest and most powerful rocket. A photograph circulating on social media shows the ‘space relic,’ inscribed with the words, “Starship Flight Test 5. October 13, 2024.”

This gift is believed to be a heat shield tile from SpaceX’s Starship rocket, part of its fifth flight test conducted in October 2024. The gesture has captured attention on X (formerly Twitter), where several users have referred to the gift as a ‘space relic.’ One user humorously remarked, “When many people are burning with jealousy, you need a heat shield,” while another said, “Giving space relics should become mainstream gifting culture now.”

In return, Prime Minister Modi presented Musk and his family with a collection of books, including Rabindranath Tagore’s The Crescent Moon, The Great RK Narayan Collection, and Pandit Vishnu Sharma’s Panchatantra.

Notably, the Starship Flight Test 5 was a breakthrough for SpaceX, marking the first successful mid-air catch of a 232-foot rocket booster using ‘Mechazilla,’ a pair of chopstick-like arms. The test also showcased the possibility of reusing and relaunching rockets within a short timeframe of 30 to 60 minutes. The flight ended with the Starship rocket splashing down in the Indian Ocean, after testing key reusability technologies. These efforts are part of SpaceX’s preparation for its long-term goal of a manned mission to Mars, which Musk envisions as humanity’s next step toward interplanetary habitation.