# Flat-Earther builds a rocket **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 22, 2017, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-earther-builds-a-rocket/802427 "2017-11-22T18:00:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2020, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-earther-builds-a-rocket/802427/161 "2020-02-25T05:56:44Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Maybe not horrible, but he was trying to raise money by fraudulently claiming he was a Flat-Earther. He was at least a con man. Hmm. If I were a flat-earther who was willing to fund research to validate my belief, one option is to fund a legitimate scientist to prove my belief. That’s never going to give me the answer I am looking for, so another option is to fund someone someone like Mad Mike. Sure, he separated fools from their money but I wonder if any of his supporters would ever feel like they were conned. As far as I can tell he did what he said what he was going to do. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2020, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-earther-builds-a-rocket/802427/162 "2020-02-25T06:32:08Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Maybe not horrible, but he was trying to raise money by fraudulently claiming he was a Flat-Earther. He was at least a con man. I think that he was truly and genuinely a Flat-Earther, he just didn’t actually think his rocket would prove it. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2020, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-earther-builds-a-rocket/802427/163 "2020-02-25T06:36:58Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > I think that he was truly and genuinely a Flat-Earther, he just didn’t actually think his rocket would prove it. See [this](https://www.space.com/flat-earther-mad-mike-hughes-august-2019-launch.html) article. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2020, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-earther-builds-a-rocket/802427/164 "2020-02-25T06:37:02Z")
I take no joy in his death, while noting that flat-earther rocket-men have short life expectancies. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2020, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-earther-builds-a-rocket/802427/165 "2020-02-25T06:43:37Z")
[New _Rolling Stone_ article](https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/flat-earth-conspiracy-theory-mike-hughes-reaction-957271/). ---
**Author:** ![jerez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c68b51/32.png) [@jerez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jerez)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2020, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-earther-builds-a-rocket/802427/166 "2020-02-25T08:55:53Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > You’re certainly welcome to your opinion, but be aware you’re an outlier on this. Dark humor is one thing, but actually taking pleasure in his death is pretty messed up. I agree and I’m glad someone pointed this out. What an embittered little shit one must be to revel in anyone’s death. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2020, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-earther-builds-a-rocket/802427/167 "2020-02-25T12:09:21Z")
> [@jerez](#): > > I agree and I’m glad someone pointed this out. What an embittered little shit one must be to revel in anyone’s death. When someone combines epic ignorance with epic wrecklessness to commit suicide in an entertaining way, who am I not to enjoy it. You know what I call a dead conspiracy theorist? A good start. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2020, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-earther-builds-a-rocket/802427/168 "2020-02-25T12:18:35Z")
His web site is still up. You can buy merch. [https://madmikehughes.com/store](https://madmikehughes.com/store) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2020, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-earther-builds-a-rocket/802427/169 "2020-02-25T12:27:11Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > When someone combines epic ignorance with epic wrecklessness to commit suicide in an entertaining way, who am I not to enjoy it. You know what I call a dead conspiracy theorist? A good start. He wasn’t wreckless. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2020, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-earther-builds-a-rocket/802427/170 "2020-02-25T12:29:26Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > I find it especially astonishing that the parachutes were manual release. What would be a homemade dependable auto-release? Cobbling together a autorelease would be difficult, and unintentional release could be disastrous. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2020, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-earther-builds-a-rocket/802427/171 "2020-02-25T12:48:42Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > What would be a homemade dependable auto-release? Cobbling together a autorelease would be difficult, and unintentional release could be disastrous. And unintentional non-release turned out to be safe? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2020, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-earther-builds-a-rocket/802427/172 "2020-02-25T13:40:37Z")
Amateur rocketry is inherently unsafe. I suppose it’s a matter of which sort of unsafe you wish to risk. ---
**Author:** ![jerez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c68b51/32.png) [@jerez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jerez)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2020, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-earther-builds-a-rocket/802427/173 "2020-02-25T15:30:34Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > When someone combines epic ignorance with epic wrecklessness to commit suicide in an entertaining way, who am I not to enjoy it. You know what I call a dead conspiracy theorist? A good start. Reckless. You’re better than that. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2020, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-earther-builds-a-rocket/802427/174 "2020-02-25T15:50:56Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > What would be a homemade dependable auto-release? Cobbling together a autorelease would be difficult, and unintentional release could be disastrous. An altimeter, combined with a chute release. And you test it before you use it. Those into high power model rocketry use them all the time. Off the shelf, inexpensive technology. Of course, they’re just concerned with the safe return of a model that they’ve built, so there are rules, safety regulations, exams, and checks before you fly your model. In fact, once you get to Level 3 certification for High power models, then each parachute event must be initiated by redundant control systems. Redundancy must be present in the power sources, safe and arm provisions, control logic, and output devices (e.g. bridgewires, electric matches). But I guess if you’re launching yourself into the air, then fuck it, don’t bother learning from anyone else and just make shit up as you go along. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2020, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-earther-builds-a-rocket/802427/175 "2020-02-25T16:01:54Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > don’t bother learning from anyone else and just make shit up as you go along. The dearly departed was a Flat Earther, this attitude is a prerequisite for that group. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2020, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-earther-builds-a-rocket/802427/176 "2020-02-25T16:51:57Z")
Please pay attention. His PR man claims that Hughes _was pretending to be_ a FECT but was not in fact a believer. He was doing it for the financing. He died portraying a moron, but he was really just an ostentatious jerk. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2020, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-earther-builds-a-rocket/802427/177 "2020-02-25T17:39:12Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Please pay attention. His PR man claims that Hughes _was pretending to be_ a FECT but was not in fact a believer. He was doing it for the financing. He died portraying a moron, but he was really just an ostentatious jerk. No, _you_ pay attention. As I linked a few posts back: > [@](#): > > In coverage of his 2018 launch, media outlets reported that Hughes was launching to photograph the curvature of the Earth and “prove” that the Earth is flat. This was after Hughes told AP News, “I don’t believe in science … There’s no difference between science and science fiction.” > > However, Hughes refuted (some of) these claims in an interview with [Space.com](http://Space.com). Though he does believe the Earth is flat and he ascribes to many other conspiracy theories (there isn’t enough time or space to explain them all), these beliefs are irrelevant to his career as an amateur rocketeer, he said. “I believe the Earth is flat,” Hughes said. But “this flat Earth has nothing to do with the steam rocket launches,” he added. “It never did; it never will. I’m a daredevil!” ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2020, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-earther-builds-a-rocket/802427/178 "2020-02-25T17:55:40Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > While I may chuckle over the term “lithobraking” for its resemblance to NASA jargonese it is in no way anything I want to happen to any living thing, or see it occur in front of me. Broomstick, I am in your debt. When I first saw “lithobraking” in the description of the video, I didn’t know what it meant and figured it’d come clear later, or maybe I’d look it up. The dawn didn’t come until I read your post. Ignorance Fought. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2020, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-earther-builds-a-rocket/802427/179 "2020-02-25T18:05:21Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > But I guess if you’re launching yourself into the air, then fuck it, don’t bother learning from anyone else and just make shit up as you go along. Mad Mike is to rocketry what Lawnchair Larry was to ballooning. About the only difference is that Larry died due to eating a shotgun some years later than his stunt rather deceased by gravity and “lithobraking”. Gives a bad name to many who are very serious and careful about their hobby. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2020, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-earther-builds-a-rocket/802427/180 "2020-02-25T18:07:27Z")
> [@Napier](#): > > Broomstick, I am in your debt. When I first saw “lithobraking” in the description of the video, I didn’t know what it meant and figured it’d come clear later, or maybe I’d look it up. The dawn didn’t come until I read your post. Ignorance Fought. Yeah. It’s sort of like the skydiving term “bounce”. It conceals something very serious in words that don’t sound quite so sad as the bare facts. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-earther-builds-a-rocket/802427.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-earther-builds-a-rocket/802427.md?page=10)