Around 150,000 People Defied Coronavirus Advice To Watch Failed SpaceX Launch

Around 150,000 people turned out to watch the aborted SpaceX rocket launch the other day, despite the fact that social distancing measures are in place across the USA, as well as around the rest of the world.

The USA has the highest death toll of any country as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, with more than 100,000 people having died after testing positive for the virus.

Despite that - and the measures that are in place to keep people at home - a huge crowd turned out to watch the rocket launch, before it was called off due to poor weather conditions. The launch will be attempted again tomorrow (30 May).

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.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: elon musk, US News, Technology, Weird, space

Tom Wood

Tom Wood is a LADbible journalist and Twin Peaks enthusiast. Despite having a career in football cut short by a chronic lack of talent, he managed to obtain degrees from both the University of London and Salford. According to his French teacher, at the weekend he mostly likes to play football and go to the park with his brother. Contact Tom on [email protected]

@TPWagwim