Known as an amateur American astronaut and daredevil, “Mad Mike” Hughes died after his homemade rocket crashed. He was attempting to launch the device when tragedy struck.
“Mad Mike” Hughes, an American amateur astronaut who apparently wanted to prove that the Earth was flat, died while attempting to launch a homemade rocket.
The 64-year-old launched himself in the rocket on Saturday, an act that was filmed by the Science Channel.
The Science Channel, which is part of the Discovery Channel took to Twitter to confirm the news.
Mad Mike Hughes just launched himself in a self-made steam-powered rocket and crash landed. Very likely did not survive. pic.twitter.com/svtviTEi8f
— Justin Chapman (@justindchapman)The rocket that killed the stuntman was built in the backyard of his home in California.
The steam-powered rocket project had received sponsorship from various sources.
According to media reports, though he was touted as a flat earther (a person who believes the Earth is flat), his spokesperson Darren Shuster stated, this was just for publicity and that Hughes never really believed it.
The goal of the launch, as reported by media, was to prove that the Earth is not round but shaped like a frisbee.
The launch was carried out in the desert and many witnesses were there at the venue, when they watched in horror as a parachute emerged out of the rocket, just moments after the launch, before the rocket crashed away from the launch site, an AFP report stated.
“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,” the channel stated on Twitter.