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Mike Hughes: RIP on this flat planet

Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2020 6:22 am
by _MeDotOrg
Perhaps some Remember Mike Hughes, who in 2018 launched himself in a rocket to prove the earth was flat?

He was working on a show for the Science Channel about people trying to reach space on the cheap. The Science Channel didn't get a series, they got a snuff film. As his steam powered rocket went up, a parachute with no one attached to it ejected as the rocket ascended. After about a thousand feet the rocket stopped, and then plunged, in a nose-first dive straight into the ground. It must have been horrifying to witness.

In thinking about this, I must admit I indulged in a bit of smug schadenfreude. I saw the guy as a flat-earth Evel Knievel. But the fact that his latest venture was being documented by the 'Science' Channel? It's a reality show about a wack job that cost him his life.

It's like a reality show about extreme plastic surgery, or the Scream Queen mothers of Junior Miss Talent Show contestants, or Honey Boo Boo. The shows exist so that we may look at the people and feel superior to them.

Re: Mike Hughes: RIP on this flat planet

Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2020 6:40 am
by _moksha
Was there some parachute that failed to deploy?

Re: Mike Hughes: RIP on this flat planet

Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2020 6:47 am
by _MeDotOrg
moksha wrote:Was there some parachute that failed to deploy?

You can see the video here. A parachute ejects as the rocket ascends, but clearly no one is attached to it.

Re: Mike Hughes: RIP on this flat planet

Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2020 6:59 am
by _moksha
I noticed a drone in the background of that video was also filming. It would be interesting to see that video as well.

Re: Mike Hughes: RIP on this flat planet

Posted: Tue Feb 25, 2020 8:40 am
by _Dr. Shades
"Steam-powered rocket?" That sounds like an oxymoron.

Since when has steam power ever resulted in escape velocity?

Re: Mike Hughes: RIP on this flat planet

Posted: Tue Feb 25, 2020 5:10 pm
by _Physics Guy
It’s not easy to calculate escape velocity from a flat Earth. What’s the mass of all the turtles?

Re: Mike Hughes: RIP on this flat planet

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2020 2:44 pm
by _Bret Ripley
Physics Guy wrote:It’s not easy to calculate escape velocity from a flat Earth. What’s the mass of all the turtles?
I don't know, PG; but using a rocket to escape from turtles? Wile E. Coyote would blush.

Re: Mike Hughes: RIP on this flat planet

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2020 4:46 pm
by _Res Ipsa
Dr. Shades wrote:"Steam-powered rocket?" That sounds like an oxymoron.

Since when has steam power ever resulted in escape velocity?


The Rocket wasn’t supposed to reach escape velocity. A balloon was supposed to deploy and take him up to 60 miles above the surface.

Re: Mike Hughes: RIP on this flat planet

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2020 5:06 pm
by _DarkHelmet
I'll bet the rocket hit the top of the dome that covers the flat earth. The fact it only went up 1000 feet actually proves the flat earth.

Re: Mike Hughes: RIP on this flat planet

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2020 6:06 pm
by _Chap
The man who died was clearly multiply misguided, and much responsibility lies on those who encouraged him in his folly.

But I can't see any aspect of his death as a joke.