NASA had actually asked people not to turn up to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and also view the event from the convenience as well as safety and security of their own residences instead.

Ahead of Wednesday’s attempted launch, NASA manager Jim Bridenstine said: “We are asking people to join us in this launch, yet to do so from residence.

While it isn’t possible to determine precisely the number of individuals who tipped out for the stopped working liftoff, price quotes often tend to come in at around 150,000 people.

NASA had asked people not to turn up to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and watch the event from the comfort and safety of their own homes instead.

Ahead of Wednesday’s attempted launch, NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine said: “We are asking people to join us in this launch, but to do so from home. We’re asking people not to travel to the Kennedy Space Center.

“We’re trying to make sure we have access to the International Space Station without drawing the massive amount of crowds that we usually would.”

Well, that appeal to the public’s common sense clearly fell on deaf ears, because they turned out in their droves hoping to catch a glimpse of the rocket, which was meant to carry two astronauts up to the International Space Station.

While it isn’t possible to determine exactly the number of people who tipped out for the failed take-off, estimates tend to come in at around 150,000 people.

Florida’s Space Coast Office of Tourism told Space.com: “We are still running cell phone data and other reports for possible additional insight, but the estimated number of viewers in person was 150,000.”

As well as that, worrying pictures coming out of the event seem to show that barely anyone was wearing a face mask, and not many people bothered to observe safe social distancing either.

Florida Today wrote: “Not many masks were sighted among the onlookers.”

There’s just no reasoning with some people.

If all goes to plan, the second attempt at a launch will take place tomorrow at about 3.22pm local time – that’s 8.22pm over here in the UK – and you’ll be able to watch live streams from both NASA and SpaceX on their websites.

Please, don’t show up to Kennedy Space Center for it.