NASA engineer pulls out phone to capture spacecraft launch — accidentally captures his proposal

A NASA engineer took her phone out to capture the spacecraft launch. But what she did not know was that her fiancé had planned to propose to her amidst the celebration. Well, we're talking about Moogega Cooper (@moogega) and her fiancé, Alex Shekarchian (@shekarchian), whose proposal during a NASA spacecraft launch went viral.

In October, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory launched the Europa Clipper mission to investigate Jupiter's moon Europa. As people gathered to observe the launch of the spacecraft that Cooper — a key contributor — had worked on, the NASA engineer took out her phone to capture the celebration. But she lost focus when her boyfriend tapped her to get her attention. Oblivious to the setup, Cooper looked down and was shocked to see Alex, her boyfriend, down on one knee. He held the beautiful ring he had bought to propose to Cooper and, with a big smile, asked, "Will you marry me?" The NASA engineer froze for a second but then realized the big moment and said, 'Yes.' Alex stood up and pulled Cooper into a hug before they exchanged a heartfelt kiss. "As the spacecraft embarks on its journey to Europa, we are excited to also embark on the beginning of this journey," Cooper wrote.

In a conversation with CBS Mornings, when Alex was asked if he should have let the launch happen and then proposed to Cooper, he said, "You don't think about rockets with the sense of romanticism and beauty; but having to get to know them, the scientists for the past couple of years, you learned that there is so much beauty in each launch. So when I decided to do it, I was like, 'You have to go all in.'"

Every proposal is beautiful, but Alex took things to the next level. He didn’t just pick a day Cooper had been looking forward to — he also made sure it became a double celebration for both of them. To understand the significance of proposals, a survey asked new brides how they feel about their proposals. Surprisingly, more than half (53%) said they wish they had been proposed in a different, and more creative way. Among the reasons, 22% said they wanted a different location, while 20% had problems with the proposal speech. Making your partner feel special during a proposal is the most important thing, and now, looking at the survey results, it is safe to say that Alex just aced the assignment.

Meanwhile, reacting to his proposal, @yudyverasbueno commented, "Thank you so much for sharing this news! With everything going on in the world, we really need more positive stories to lift our spirits and remind us of good things happening around us. A big congratulations to the beautiful Dr. Cooper and her fiancé!" Echoing the sentiments, @thatqtdanib said, "Dr. Cooper is the best! If you haven’t watched her sheer brilliance on 'How the Universe Works,' stop what you’re doing and watch it, and you’re welcome. Congrats, Dr. Cooper! You deserve all the best things, and I’m so excited to learn so much more about Europa!"

@brucie73 wrote, "Chance of a lifetime proposal! I love so much that they are sharing this incredible moment of joy with the world. They truly are a dream team." @sharlarenea wrote, "Congratulations on the launch and engagement! What a beautiful moment all around. I was screaming when the rocket launched because I've been eagerly waiting for this monumental moment to Jupiter for years! I can't wait to see what little Europa learns!"

You can follow Dr. Moogega Cooper (@moogega) on Instagram for lifestyle content.

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