Halasuru to SpaceX (3/3)
My journey with a team that started from a scrappy garage and reached the quarters of Elon Musk.
Continued from Halasuru to SpaceX (2/3)
Sharing your work with your parents is always an experience that brings one down to earth. I can still recall, after coming back from Bangalore, how I gathered my family around our dining table to share the developments of my past few weeks.
Following a 20-minute narrative about Elon Musk, a notable fundraiser, and an invitation to the US, my father met my gaze and earnestly asked, "That's good, beta, but what is SpaceX?"
SpaceX, Hawthorne, California
On 21st August 2017, a terribly tiny Air China Boeing 747 flew me out of Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in Mumbai. After an entertaining pitstop in Beijing, where I watched an Indian uncle mistakenly detained by the narcotics department for supposedly carrying cocaine when it was merely a bag of ‘sabudana’ (sago), I touched down in the City of Angels, Los Angeles.
The entire team arrived 10 days before the event to assemble the remainder of the pod for which we booked out a workshop somewhere in the suburbs. Unlike our accommodation in Bangalore, our AirBnB in Korea Town was lux and inviting. However, as much as we yearned to enjoy the cozy beds, the freshly upholstered sofas, and the electric fireplace, our task was far from complete.
The moment we landed, work commenced. Jet-lagged, sleep deprived, and heavily caffeinated, the team was determined to complete the last stretch of the OrcaPod. Pre-event preparations included a fresh coat of paint, application of stickers, and minor assembly tweaks. In the days leading up to the final day, with so much happening under one roof, the workshop looked like a bustling little town. The space was a hive of activity, teeming with focused work. Just like a busy anthill, it pulsed with life around the clock as team members – more like dedicated craftspeople – worked relentlessly on the pod. Half eaten ramen bowls and coffee cups, everywhere. Everyone’s sweat and oil stained bodies desperately longing for a hot shower.
When the zenith of exhaustion met the nadir of anticipation, the OrcaPod had come to life. It was time for SpaceX. Hyperloop India was the only Indian, and among the only two Asian teams, to be competing among the top 24 teams from around the globe.
On the first day of the competition, I found myself at a diner on Rocket Road in Hawthorne, the same location as the SpaceX headquarters, lazily eating my bagel and sipping on a cup of coffee when on one of the news channels on TV, I saw an aerial view of the one mile long hyperloop testing track. I assumed it would’ve been a stock footage, but then it cut to a fleet of journalists and paps storming a jet black Tesla X from which Elon was going to step out. I immediately dropped my food and went running out to witness this pandemonium play out in real time right across the road.
In the ensuing hour, teams gradually entered the SpaceX premises. The scene reminded me of the golden ticket moment in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. As we entered, we observed teams busily setting up their stations, continuing with their preparations from last-minute aesthetics adjustments to hardware checks. The exterior parking lot had transformed into a festive carnival featuring games, food stalls, and lively music, filled with all the energy of a World’s Fair.
The two days of the competition were absolutely stunning. From seeing Elon in the flesh, to feeling dwarfed by the Falcon-9, to witnessing young talent execute extraordinary pieces of engineering, it was an awesome experience.
Despite the twinge of disappointment that we didn't win, there was a realization as vast as the star-studded LA sky. It was the unshakeable truth of the potency of perseverance. Even in defeat, the knowledge that our attempt was solid as bedrock made the journey worth every step. I’m not attempting to be a philosopher, but I guess sometimes honest effort backed by honest intention is good enough. Even if they don’t yield results in the short term, they snowball into goodwill for a lifetime.
Beyond SpaceX
The reception the team got upon landing in India was beyond generous. Hyperloop India was trending on social media and the press. Universities and organizations across India were inviting different members of the team to give keynotes and interviews about their experience. The cherry on top for me was waking up to an email from Amitabh Kant (former CEO, Niti Aayog) inviting me to present the Hyperloop India’s work to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Former First Daughter Ivanka Trump, and their respective delegations at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit 2017 in Hyderabad.
Navigating from our modest workspace in Bangalore to the iconic SpaceX headquarters in Los Angeles was a roller-coaster ride of anticipation, hard work, and deep learning. Upon reflection, it was more than just a competition; it was a testament to our indomitable spirit. This experience reaffirmed the importance of persistence, and was an example of working towards goals despite the nightmares they give you. While we may not have claimed the victory we sought, we returned home to India with an invaluable treasure – the understanding that the pursuit of audacious goals, fueled by relentless effort, is its own reward.
Hyperloop India set the foundation for some of the most category defining companies of tomorrow with Kshitij and Awais at Pixxel, Sibesh at Maya Labs, Aditi at Locale, Prithvi at Humit, Aishwarya and Sanket at Dirac Labs, Sairaj at Alongside, Vinayak at BiteSpeed, or Divyansh at Houseware.
It most certainly gave me the courage to lay the first bricks down for Neutron.
I think I speak on behalf of all the wonderful people who were a part of this journey when I say that this experience will remain foundational to our careers forever.