How to Stream NASA TV and Launch America https://www.nasa.gov/feature/how-to-stream-nasa-tv-and-launch-america/
Around 3 PM you should be watching if you want to see it. But it's on now and they are showing the astronauts in the capsule doing their checks. One hour to go until launch! They are waiting for a weather update.
Reports are it wasn't a rocket failure, it was a failure of the umbilical system to reconnect after the firing test to drain the unused fuel. The next two starhoppers, SN5, and SN6, are waiting in the wings for their demise. Pretty cool way to build rockets. Just like I did as a kid. ByEric Ralph Posted on June 2, 2020 Shortly after a briefing following SpaceX’s flawless astronaut launch debut, CEO Elon Musk casually revealed the best explanation yet for why a Starship prototype violently exploded during testing on May 29th. On that fated Saturday, SpaceX successfully completed the fifth static fire of a Raptor engine installed on a full-scale Starship prototype, preceded by about an hour and a half of vehicle checks and propellant loading. Unfortunately, around a minute after Raptor shut down, what was quickly identified as liquid methane began spurting out of a specific section at the base of Starship, rapidly creating a massive cloud as the cryogenic propellant boiled and turned into gas. The specific source is unclear but moments later, something under Starship SN4 provided the shock or spark needed to ignite the expanding fire hazard, producing a spectacularly large and violent explosion. Unsurprisingly, the accidental fuel-air explosion that was created obliterated Starship SN4 in the blink of an eye, shredding its lower (liquid oxygen) tank into steel confetti and immediately breaching the upper (liquid methane) tank, which fell to the ground and subsequently exploded again. The launch mount Starship was staged on was also damaged beyond repair and has been fully dismantled and scrapped in the two days since the anomaly. Thankfully, however, SpaceX already has replacement mounts and ships well on their way to carrying Starship SN4’s torch forward and Elon Musk already seems to understand what caused the prototype’s demise. Shortly after a post-launch briefing celebrating and discussing SpaceX’s inaugural astronaut launch on May 30th, Reuters reporter Joey Roulette was able to ask Musk about Starship SN4’s spectacular demise the day prior. The SpaceX CEO was quoted saying that “what we thought was going to be a minor test of a quick disconnect ended up being a big problem”, confirming suspicions based on careful analysis of public views of the explosion that it was caused by issues with Starship’s ground support equipment (GSE).
They're getting good at proving the reliability of reused hardware, which has probably helped with this:
And hop it did! The exhaust is interesting. I guess that's the difference burning methane instead of kerosene, hydrogen, or solids.
I expect Starship to be carrying commercial payloads by the mid 2020's, but I think a manned launch will take much longer than that due to all the work needed to design and build what is essentially an ISS scale pressurised volume able to support dozens of people. Looking forward to the 15km hop attempt. My money is on a successful launch but a landing failure, likely involving them triggering self-destruct.