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posted by chromas on Monday March 26 2018, @08:08AM   Printer-friendly
from the fun-with-steam dept.

Self-taught rocket scientist finally blasts off into California sky

"Mad" Mike Hughes, the rocket man who believes the Earth is flat, propelled himself about 1,875 feet into the air Saturday before a hard landing in the Mojave Desert. He told The Associated Press that outside of an aching back he's fine after the launch near Amboy, California.

"Relieved," he said after being checked out by paramedics. "I'm tired of people saying I chickened out and didn't build a rocket. I'm tired of that stuff. I manned up and did it."

The launch in the desert town — about 200 miles east of Los Angeles — was originally scheduled in November. It was scrubbed several times due to logistical issues with the Bureau of Land Management and mechanical problems that kept popping up.

YouTube video

Previously: Flat Earther Plans Manned Steam-Powered Rocket Launch
Federal Government Denies Permission for Flat Earth Researcher's Rocket Launch


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  • (Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Monday March 26 2018, @09:31AM (5 children)

    by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Monday March 26 2018, @09:31AM (#658323) Journal

    We abduct the leading proponents of this flat earth "theory", take them to the moon, make them do a space walk enroute, then walk around on the surface of the moon, while studying the earth through a telescope. Then, we haul their asses to Mars, same routine. Space walk, to ensure that they know they are no longer on earth, watching the earth revolve behind them, then walking around on Mars.

    When they get back, will they STILL say that it's all an elaborate hoax? How 'bout we don't bring them back. They can just spend their lives on the flat Mars. I doubt that they carry any essential DNA or anything.

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  • (Score: 5, Funny) by bart on Monday March 26 2018, @09:45AM (1 child)

    by bart (2844) on Monday March 26 2018, @09:45AM (#658325)

    COOL. Ok me me me. The earth is flat as a pancake, I know for sure, I've been to New Zealand and they didn't fall off. Can I now go to the moon :-)

    • (Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Monday March 26 2018, @10:41AM

      by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Monday March 26 2018, @10:41AM (#658347) Journal

      Sure. Mr. Musk will want a buck-two-eighty or so, have your money ready when you get to the gate.

  • (Score: 2) by requerdanos on Monday March 26 2018, @02:25PM

    by requerdanos (5997) Subscriber Badge on Monday March 26 2018, @02:25PM (#658434) Journal

    the leading proponents of this flat earth "theory", take them to the moon...space walk...Mars....When they get back, will they STILL say that it's all an elaborate hoax?

    Well, this isn't threatening to those fine folks because they confidently believe that the very idea of "traveling" to "the moon" and "to mars" is a hoax itself, and even were it not a hoax outright, it would provide a vantage point from which to observe a flat earth with a cold, icy antarctica extending to infinity in all directions.

    So, from their point of view (heads firmly ensconced within posterior anatomy features), yeah, they'd for sure say "See? I told you so!"

    Let's suppose something else. Let's suppose the very idea that such a person as "Mike Hughes" actually exists is itself a vivid hoax, and that the story of this short vertical flight of madness is simply a further story spun by one of the people who work to sustain such a hoax.

    That's much more likely than the flat-earth narrative, to put that into perspective.

  • (Score: 2) by urza9814 on Monday March 26 2018, @08:56PM (1 child)

    by urza9814 (3954) on Monday March 26 2018, @08:56PM (#658653) Journal

    Nah, they'll probably still insist that it's all occurring on some Hollywood studio, simulated with some kind of VR or some other garbage.

    I'd say let them bring their own camera equipment, their own radio equipment, and as much high explosive as they want. Then tell them to go ahead and try to break out of the studio.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 27 2018, @03:51AM

      by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 27 2018, @03:51AM (#658793)

      Its flat. Let them walk back. They will be fine.