Man will never launch rocket again

Slightly more than two years ago, I noted that the self-designated “Mad” Mike Hughes had failed to launch his home-made rocket, which he planned to use to prove the flat-earth theory correct. Today I learned that he has died due to a malfunction during his latest attempt.

According to The Guardian,

In March 2018, Hughes, who believed the Earth was flat, propelled himself about 570 metres (1,875 feet) into the air before a hard landing in the Mojave Desert.

“My story really is incredible,” Hughes said at the time. “It’s got a bunch of storylines – the garage-built thing. I’m an older guy. It’s out in the middle of nowhere, plus the flat Earth. The problem is it brings out all the nuts also, people questioning everything. It’s the downside of all this.”

He had already succeeded in reaching an altitude of “about 1,875 feet” in 2018 in his steam-powered rocket. At that point he said,

“Am I glad I did it? Yeah. I guess. I’ll feel it in the morning. I won’t be able to get out of bed,” he said. “At least I can go home and have dinner and see my cats tonight.”

Sadly, this time he won’t feel anything.