After a disconcerting delay that lasted almost half an hour, Prime Minister Modi on Wednesday announced that India had successfully tested an anti-satellite missile and brought down a live satellite. The PM said that the operation, named Mission Shakti, ushered India into the league of ‘space powers’ that includes United States, Russia and China.

Modi’s announcement came after short notice, pushing many on the social media to nervously joke about another demonetisation and some news anchors to speculate about a surgical strike.

While some newspapers managed to maintain sobriety while covering the issue the next day, others allowed jest to seep into their front pages.

The Telegraph called the announcement “Mission Desperation”, thanking the PM for not “driving us to ATMs like last time”. The newspaper added one joke too many, with an accompanying picture of North Korean Premier Kim Jong Un and the caption “Aw, Not Fair, Modiji, You are the Rocket Man Now”.

The Free Press Journal went a step ahead, carrying an awkwardly edited picture on its front page showing Modi, Arun Jaitley and Amit Shah wearing space suits. “Ab Space Mein Bhi Chowkidar”, said the bold headline.

Front pages of The Indian Express and Hindustan Times came across as relatively composed, with straightforward headlines shorn of dramatic graphics.

The Times of India couldn’t resist a Star Wars metaphor, dubbing the company of anti-satellite missiles capable countries like US, Russia and China as a “star wars club”. Taking a cue from Modi himself, the newspaper tried to budge in an ambitious acronym for R, A, C, I in “RACING”—R for Russia, A for America, C for China and I for India.

Mumbai Mirror let Modi’s air quote gesture cover its masthead, accompanied by a witty ‘Read my Air Quotes’.

The front page of Mathrubhumi said “Space Superpower” while its sub-head was more prosaic: “India tested anti-satellite missile”. It added that the news of the nation was “conveyed directly by PM”.

Dinamalar ran with “Achievement!”, proclaiming: “Our flag in space; successful satellite launch”. It said the Opposition was kicking up a “ruckus because it’s election time”. Intriguingly, it added: “even in space, our army flies its flag of success”.

Amar Ujala decided over-the-top was never too over-the-top and went all out with its space-themed page.

In contrast was Dainik Bhaskar‘s New Delhi edition and Dainik Jagran which kept things more simple.