Google CEO congratulates SpaceX; says 'still feels like science fiction '

Google CEO Sundar Pichai congratulates Spacex; says: Still feels like science fiction; gets 'thanks message' from Elon Musk

Google CEO Sundar Pichai congratulated SpaceX and its CEO

Elon Musk

after the company achieved its first-ever midair catch of a Starship spacecraft returning from space. Sundar Pichai said the achievement “still feels like science fiction” and added that watching the event live was incredible.

Musk responded to the message with a “Thanks”. In a post on X, Google CEO Sundar Pichai wrote, “Congrats @SpaceX for that starship catch, still feels like science fiction! Watching it live was incredible. Upwards!” Elon Musk replied to the Google CEO’s message, thanking him.

SpaceX’s Starship captured by launchpad arms

The exchange came after SpaceX’s Starship spacecraft returned to Earth on Saturday, November 14, and was caught between giant mechanical arms at the company’s Starbase launch site in Texas.

The achievement marked the first time a Starship spacecraft returning from space had been caught midair using the launch tower’s “chopstick” arms.The spacecraft completed 14 laps around Earth and released 26 advanced Starlink satellites into orbit during its 15th test flight. However, SpaceX fell short of its planned double catch after the first-stage booster exploded shortly after liftoff on Friday.

SpaceX said the spacecraft’s heat shield and other key systems appeared to have performed well.

The company is still investigating the booster’s failure. “On Friday, November 13, Starship lifted off from Starbase, Texas on its 15th flight. On Saturday, November 14, Starship returned to Starbase, Texas, and changed everything,” the company wrote in an X post.

Starship is a 124-metre rocket designed for missions to the Moon and Mars. NASA is also relying on the spacecraft for its Artemis programme, which aims to return astronauts to the Moon later this decade.

NASA congratulates SpaceX

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman congratulated SpaceX writing:"Congrats to @elonmusk and the @SpaceX team! It was almost magic..Making more believers by the day....one step closer to".Musk replied saying: "Thanks to an incredible team at SpaceX".