Flat-Earther Conspiracy Costs Amateur Astronaut His Life After Homemade Rocket Crashes
64-year-old Michael Mad Mike Hughes was an amateur astronaut who wanted to prove that the Earth is flat. Hughes passed away when his homemade rocket crashed in California. The Science Channel which is a part of the Discovery Channel filmed the accident.
Conspiracies around the Earth being flat has been doings the 'rounds' for a long long time now. Even though there should be no doubt about our mother planet being round in shape, there are actual communities around the world that believe the opposite.
This belief has cost an American man his life; 64-year-old Michael 'Mad Mike' Hughes, was an amateur astronaut who wanted to prove that the Earth is flat, passed away when his homemade rocket crashed in California.
Twitter
The Science Channel, which is a part of the Discovery Channel, filmed the accident and offered their condolences to Hughes' family and friends. The channel was filming the launch for their new series, Homemade Astronauts. Hughes' goal was to ascend 1,500 metres in the atmosphere to prove that the Earth was not round like a ball but instead flat like a Frisbee.
Michael 'Mad Mike' Hughes tragically passed away today during an attempt to launch his homemade rocket. Our thoughts & prayers go out to his family & friends during this difficult time. It was always his dream to do this launch & Science Channel was there to chronicle his journey pic.twitter.com/GxwjpVf2md
¡ª Science Channel (@ScienceChannel) February 23, 2020
However, the whole claim about him wanting to prove that the Earth is flat was a mere PR gimmick. His spokesperson, Darren Shuster, told Los Angeles Times,
"I don't think he believed it. He did have some governmental conspiracy theories. But don't confuse it with that flat Earth thing. That was a PR stunt we dreamed up."
Twitter
Hughes was a stuntman by profession and he engineered the a steam-powered rocket in the backyard of his home in Barstow, California.
According to the channel, Hughes had announced his participation in the new series. When asked why he wanted to do it, he had said,
"Just to convince people that they can do things extraordinary with their lives... Maybe it will inspire someone else."
Twitter
Our condolences to his family. May his soul rest in peace.