Should SpaceX Starship land on the Moon?

Landing Starship on the Moon is more difficult than one would imagine. Here are some thoughts about why I believe Starship as is can't land on the Moon!

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The animations and representations you see in my videos are made by myself. These are not 100% accurate. I can also not guarantee for the correctness of the information I give. I provide this information in all conscience but mistakes happen. Please do not rely heavily on it. If you find a flaw or disagree please share your feedback in the comment section!

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All animations are as usual done in Blender which is OpenSource and that means everyone can use it for free and even download and customize the code to adapt its features to one's needs! To record my audio I use Audacity which is also great and free. What a time to be alive!

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[felixmarseille]

Also the starship's main engines cannot be throttled down enough to hover on the moon

[nicogutholz]

2:53 Was that supposed to be a censor? :D
Glad to see your videos again!

[hawk]

So glad you are back! This must have taken so much work, I really love all the little details.

[-A-c]

The sled idea makes a lot of sense. The problem to me is the initial missions of setting up infrastructure.

My thinking is that lunar starship transports the other smaller competing landers to moon that will have landing pads ready for lunar starships waiting in lunar orbit. Starship then brings down the additional heavy equipment and freight needed to accelerate construction.

Of course, by then this becomes a matter of cooperation and no longer a competition.

[HylanderSB]

Excellent explanation! I hadn’t considered the risk of lunar debris getting into LEO.

[commonsenseskeptic]

You'd probably enjoy our Debunking : StarShip series. Six parts, and pretty much demolishes every claim Musk has made about this craft.

[kedrednael]

Very nice visuals! I love that you are getting the orbits right while still keeping it very simple and funny.

[jesusrv]

I love every single frame of this video :) Well done!

[glenn_r_frank_author]

Great to see a new video! Interesting idea... I have not heard that idea or seen any numbers on if surface material could be kicked into escape velocity, but that is an interesting concept that would explain those thrusters up top. The powerful rockets at the bottom of the ship would be ridiculously overpowered for lunar landing, but on the other hand they would not have to have them full throttle either. The upper engines could also be just maneuvering jets to correct for the vertical landing (so it won't tip over). Loved the animation in this! very stylized and fun to watch. Loved the moon of cheese thing too! ;-)

[rickstandal]

How about a landing hook and a restraining wire. Maybe a giant tower you could hook your nose eye to and it would lower you to the surface. As the ship is made out of steel, maybe a huge magnet that it would stick to as it flew by. LOL

[mrwoodcat]

This is my first time watch your video.. really like the animation!!

[ricardoabh]

The moon lander should have 2 version...
The moon builder: Only task is to create a landing pad + solar panel + a sort of GPS ping that the moon lander can track for exact landing
The moon landers: this land on the “pad” created by the Moon builder.

[LucasFehr]

Yeah, I never thought of that before. Good point!

[craigrmeyer]

This suggests that for the last X meters of altitude, the Starship should use special engines with exhaust velocity no higher than the escape velocity of 2400m/sec, so ISP of roughly <240sec. That would take care of it.

[davidm.]

Great Video! Good to have you back <3 :D ... even with "as is" in the title it still seems a bit clickbaity. XD

[elopeous]

Damn i didnt think of that effect when such a heavy lifter landing on the moon.

That is so cool

[clayman]

Along with it not being able to refuel on the moon as far as I know

[GurmeetKaur-dzmh]

I loved your ksp videos please start doing them again

[danieldore]

Maybe build a isolated platform before the first starship land.

[rodrigoconceicao]

Starship will have a variant to land on Moon, won't be the same that will go to Mars.