It looks like it’s really happening tomorrow. The SpaceX home page features Starship on the pad, ready for launch at 5am Pacific time. I’ll be up and watching. It’s not often you get to see the world change (in a positive way), scheduled and televised.

It took a year (!) for the FAA to approve the launch. We’ll know in a few seconds after ignition if it’s a success.

Looking ahead to the massive payload capacity of Starship, here’s a source for how much payload was possible during the Apollo era using Saturn V rockets. It’s hard to derive the number from this haystack of statistics, but my best estimate is about 15 tons cargo delivered to the Moon. Starship can deliver up to 250 tons!! That’s a true game changer.