I managed to track down why I thought it was the case:
https://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/SRHoliwell/20150130/235329/A_Maze_of_Murderscapes_Metroid_II.php
I read that article long ago, my main interaction with the original game, and that passage stuck into my head. Another thing that was stuck in my head wasbut I couldn't find back where I read that trivia bit.that that capsule was using the missile image,
And actually looking at the ending here[►] you can clearly see the flashingSo I thought this was the common interpretation. Is it not? ^_^"missile at the middle of the ship that people interpreted as being the capsule to contain the Metroid, not present before, that you have to touch to end the game.
huh
I NEVER noticed that before.