Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Elon Musk, head of the U.S. Government Efficiency Office (DOGE) in Washington on Thursday and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX.
Discussions focused on strengthening collaboration between Indian and US entities in several key areas, including innovation, space exploration, artificial intelligence, and sustainable development. Opportunities for deepening collaboration in emerging technologies, entrepreneurship and excellent governance were also examined.
But what caught the eye of many was the special gift that Musk gave to Prime Minister Modi. It looked like a heat shield tile from his Behemoth spacecraft spacecraft.
Starship’s Heat Shield Tiles are hexagonal ceramic tiles designed to protect SpaceX spacecraft in the atmosphere.
It is made from silica-based ceramics that resemble space shuttle tiles, but stronger and more fire-resistant. Unlike the square tiles on the Space Shuttle, the hexagonal design eliminates linear gaps and reduces heat weaknesses. Tiles efficiently emit heat and keep the underlying spacecraft structure cool.
Specific details regarding the gift have not been revealed yet.
The meeting took place at a crucial time as India deliberated on regulatory issues related to satellite internet, particularly SpaceX’s StarLink service.
The Starlink licensing application is currently under review during a dispute with Indian telecom giant Reliance Jio over the spectrum allocation of satellite services.
The Modi and Musk meetings are seen as part of India’s broader efforts to assert themselves in the global space race where space-based communications are important.
India signed the US Artemis Agreement in 2023 and established guidelines for modern space activities. The growing partnership between India and mask companies reflects deep relationships in technological and entrepreneurial innovation.
