Multiple Soylentils have written in to let us know about the death of Mike Hughes:
Michael 'Mad Mike' Hughes, staunch flat Earth conspiracy theorist, launched himself into the skies above Barstow in San Bernardino county Saturday, February 22nd.
He was attempting to reach an altitude of ~5000 feet (1,500 meters). Unfortunately his parachute did not open during descent causing him to plummet to his death.
This wasn't Hughes' first rodeo, as the self-taught engineer had made two other attempts, the latest of which was supposed to launch in August 2019. That attempt was grounded by bad weather. Before that, the rocketeer had a successful (albeit bumpy) launch in March 2018, when his homemade rocket reached 1,875 feet (572 m) in altitude over Amboy, California. During that launch, Hughes had to deploy two parachutes to save himself from smashing into the desert. Even so he plummeted back to Earth at 350 mph (563 km/h). He got out of that one with just a sore back, he said at the time.
This launch was only a stepping stone to the eventual goal to proving the Earth was flat.
Would flat-Earth-believer Hughes have been able to see our planet's sphere at 5,000 feet (1,524 m)? Nope. And he knew that, saying he would need to soar past the so-called Kármán line — where the sky ends and space begins, or roughly 62 miles (100 kilometers) above Earth — to see the curvature with his own eyes.
Two other amateur rocket teams are also attempting to reach the 100 KM point.
TMZ, though probably at many other venues shortly., I, for one, offer prayers for Mad Mike, and may Minos, Aeacus, and Rhadamanthys judge him with mercy.
'Mad' Mike Hughes is believed to possibly be dead after launching himself in the air with a self-made rocket that crash-landed -- and it was captured on camera.
The well-known daredevil and amateur rocket-engineer was doing a rocket launch Saturday in what appears to be near Barstow, CA -- where a reporter says Mike propelled himself into the air with a "self-made steam-powered rocket" and then crash-landed into the ground.
Not confirmed? Does not matter whether the earth be flat, or just a very large sphere, when you slam into it at speed.
Much more tragic, Mike seemed pretty stoked for the launch this weekend. He posted a video describing his rocket, where it would go down and what he was aiming to achieve. BTW, he was a big flat-earth believer -- and a doc was even made about him trying to prove it.
We've reached out to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Dept. for comment ... so far, no word back. However, we were told by a dispatcher at the Victor Valley Sheriff's Station that a call for service had been placed Saturday out of Barstow -- the nature of which is unclear.
Daredevil "Mad" Mike Hughes died Saturday when a homemade rocket he was attached to launched but quickly dove to earth in the California desert.
The stunt was apparently part of a forthcoming television show, "Homemade Astronauts," that was scheduled to debut later this year on Discovery Inc.'s Science Channel. Discovery confirmed the 64-year-old's death in a statement.
"It was always his dream to do this launch, and Science Channel was there to chronicle his journey," the company said.
Also at
LA Times, Space, NBC News, and CNN
Previous Coverage:
Flat Earther Manages to Travel One Third of a Mile Into the Sky Using a Steam-Powered Rocket (Takyon)
Federal Government Denies Permission for Flat Earth Researcher's Rocket Launch (Anonymous Coward)
Flat Earther Plans Manned Steam-Powered Rocket Launch (MichaelDavidCrawford)
Original Submission #1 Original Submission #2 Original Submission #3
(Score: 2) by edIII on Monday February 24 2020, @11:05PM (3 children)
Moreover, what right do they have to fix a problem determined by them in the first place?
That's my problem with psychiatry, chemicals, and their bullshit expertise with them. Too often healing the patient is about bringing them inline with society again, a productive functioning unit, instead of healing within the patient. In contrast, psychology seems to be more about the mental well being of the patient, as determined by the patient.
I'm fully able to believe that this man was happy and was able to lead a life sufficient to explore his passions. He wasn't dropping his pants, shitting in the middle of a Bob's Big Boy, and then talking to us about the the MIB. Not that I know about.
So why should I want to force him into "treatment"? Simply because I disagree with his scientific views?
Technically, lunchtime is at any moment. It's just a wave function.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday February 25 2020, @12:38AM (2 children)
Who said anything about force?
Offering support or health services though, that is the general idea of social workers. You could watch The Joker for an interesting take on mental health issues. I don't personally think Mike needed meds or therapy, just another dude who got pulled into a conspiracy theory and found inspiration in a hobby.
I do like your approach to meds and therapy, I've met multiple people who say they felt reprogrammed by meds and not always in a good way.
(Score: 1) by khallow on Tuesday February 25 2020, @07:27AM (1 child)
How do you treat someone who hasn't given you permission? By force.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday February 25 2020, @08:09AM
It's not force if you just start kissing them. It’s like a magnet. Just kiss. Don’t even wait. And when you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything.