I am looking this minute at a Space X image of the Space X Moon lander piggy-backed to Starship. The lander stack is about the same length as Starship. I was wondering how the lander got to the Moon.
This is from a NASA/NSF reel. I can’t copy the pic.
Following is the Facebook URL:
https://www.facebook.com/reel/2372870969895843
Reel TEXT:
Ship 39 finally came out to play, rolling to Masseys for its cryogenic proof testing campaign, ahead of Starship Flight 12… but why is it on the static fire stand? Does that mean it has engines?! Meanwhile, Ship 40 has received its transfer tubes and is nearing the end of its stacking operations. Booster 19’s static fire may be happening sooner than we think. And Starship HLS will NOT land on the moon for Artemis III??
Check out everything going on in the Starship program, from Starbase to the Space Coast of Florida, on this week’s Starship Update (Mar 2, 2026), hosted by Max Evans. Click the link in the comments below for the full video. 👇
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQ84Fw40nnw
The audio on my system is so garbled I can barely understand words so I don’t usually play a lot of vids with the audio.
I’ll try this one, above. 21:38 minutes.
> I was wondering how the lander got to the Moon.
It hasn’t yet. I’d guess that there will be an unmanned landing and return test within 12 months, perhaps before the end of 2026.