Mike Hughes' mission attracted a lot of attention on the Internet.
We have already described the dispute about the shape of the planet in the article “And yet the Earth is flat! ... ”. But if the photos are fake, and scientists lie, how to prove the truth? Just go on your own rocket into space!
Convinced of the earth plane
In the modern world it is still possible to find people who believe that our planet is flat. Among them is listed and an unusual person - Michael Hughes. This is a limousine driver, sometimes a reckless person and one of the active supporters of the plots of the flat Earth.
While the remaining members of the Flat Earth Society (yes, such exist) argue with scientists on the Internet and prove to the world that they are right, Hughes decided to take matters into his own hands. He simply creates missiles and launches himself into the sky.
Homemade rocket
Mr. Hughes had to eliminate the steam leak before launching a home-made rocket running on a steam engine.
Back in 2016 he tried to organize a collection of money for the creation of a rocket, but managed to get only $ 370. Then he found support in the Flat Earth Society and managed to get $ 7,875. Despite all the desire and enthusiasm, Hughes could not afford to buy a quality rocket, like a Proton, or buy the Falcon 9 from Ilon Mask. Therefore he had to create it by himself. Searching materials sent to landfills or bargaining cheaply at online auctions.
As a result, he created his own model. Its difference from the rockets we are used to is that it does not work on fuel. In fact, the tank is filled with squeezed steam under a strong pressure level.
We start into space
He began to tell that he plans to launch several times on a rocket. After that, go into space and provide photos of the planet, which will appear in the form of flat disk. Hughes was going to make his first start back in 2017. However, he had to seek permission for a long time, until he decided to organize a launch and landing on a private territory.
Initially, the rocket had to accelerate to 800 km / h. Hughes admitted that he was scared, but he was still willing to take the risk. The first attempt fell on February 2018, but the rocket failed to ignite.
Successful can be called the second start March 24, 2018. Hughes reached a height of 572 m and performed a hard landing with two parachutes in the Mojave Desert. The launch was able to take a video, and after landing Hughes did not complain of pain or injury.
Launch Video
What did Hughes prove?
Mr. Hughes was taken away on a stretcher after his home-made rocket returned to the ground near Amboy (California).
In fact, so far he has failed to confirm or deny anything. He climbed only to a height of 572 m. To notice the curvature of the planet, you will have to climb at least to a level of 10.7 km, and better still higher (this is only 10% of the distance to the present space).
63-year-old Michael Hughes does not get upset and says that this is only the beginning. In the end, this man managed to make a rocket, take off and survive. Now he is carefully studying the version with the launch on a balloon. Although experts advise to make it even easier and run on the ball the camera, and not yourself (the goal will remain).
Postscript
After a successful space flight, Hughes is going to run for office in California governors. Let's see if the self-taught astronaut and his beliefs in the plane of the Earth will help him in this.
