I am having a similar problem. After opening the launcher, signing in and clicking play, I make it to the Galactic Starfighter loading screen and then my computer goes back to desktop and says that SWTOR isn't responding. The only way I've been able to play since the update is to keep trying until I get through ( for some reason if I just keep trying, it eventually works ). I'm remaining optimistic that this will be resolved soon.

Vader is the embodiment of tragedy in Star Wars so I think it's fitting that his own story is stricken with failures.