"Mad" Mike Hughes dies in homemade rocket - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: donotdespisethesnake
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2020, 10:43:20 am
content: Inevitable, but still kind of sad.'Mad' Mike Hughes dies after crash-landing homemade rocketQuotePeople often say things like "he died doing what he loved". It seems to me he died being stupid. So people love to be stupid, I guess

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2020, 11:07:44 am
content: I guess the rocket was sabotaged by rounded earth conspirators ?

author: daqq
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2020, 11:11:47 am
content: While he was trying to prove something idiotic, at least I can respect that he was actually trying to use a scientifically valid-ish method.Quote from: BravoV on February 23, 2020, 11:07:44 amNah, clearly a false flag operation to create sympathy for the flat earthers.

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2020, 11:16:17 am
content: Quote from: daqq on February 23, 2020, 11:11:47 amYou're ruining the fun, stop that.

author: Ice-Tea
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2020, 11:26:51 am
content: His target? Hit an altitude of 1500m.So, he could have walked up a small mountain and be done with it.

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2020, 01:50:17 pm
content: A strong candidate for the 2020 Darwin Award.That sounds like it was probably a monopropellant rocket fuelled withconc. hydrogen peroxide. Even working with it in bulk as an amateur is IMHO demonstrable proof of insanity. See chapter 5 of 'Ignition' by John D. Clark, 1972.The mental disconnect between principles of physics observable in your barn and belief in a flat earth cant have done any good for his rocket design.e.g. a freely gimballed and totally balanced precision gyroscope will precess unless its axis is aligned with the axis of rotation of the earth, which adequately demonstrates that the Earth rotates and that its axis of rotation isn't normal to the surface except at the poles.If you don't believe in gyroscopes, its going to be dammed hard to develop an attitude control system that works under significant acceleration. He should have taken up high altitude ballooning, for at least an order of magnitude greater reasonably achievable target altitude for comparable risk, and no nasty conceptual conflicts impacting the control system design!

author: mcovington
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2020, 03:37:10 pm
content: Indeed, it is not at all clear why he didn't use a mountain (with a view of the ocean) or maybe a balloon. Or an airplane! What was the rocket *for*? What was it supposed to accomplish that other methods would not?

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 23, 2020, 03:48:04 pm
content: Quote from: Ice-Tea on February 23, 2020, 11:26:51 amHe could simply take a flight in a passenger airplane. Or maybe he believed airplane windows show a fake picture.

author: 0xdeadbeef
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2020, 03:49:11 pm
content: He was an stuntman in his younger days, so the rocket stuff probably was his way to get an audience and money in his late years. If he even believed this flat earth nonsense is unclear. Even if he did, I guess using his own rockets to prove round-earthers wrong was at least combining two passions and not the best way he could think of.

author: langwadt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2020, 03:56:58 pm
content: Quote from: 0xdeadbeef on February 23, 2020, 03:49:11 pmyeh, he got the flat-earthers fund his rocket hobby

author: mcovington
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2020, 04:05:31 pm
content: Quote from: mcovington on February 23, 2020, 03:37:10 pmAnswering my own question, news reports indicate that the rocket flight was something he was doing for its own sake, or as a fund raiser, not directly connected to the flat-earth theory.https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/daredevil-mad-mike-hughes-dies-homemade-rocket-launch-filmed-tv-n1141286

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 23, 2020, 04:05:39 pm
content: Now flat earthers can claim that corrupted government assassinated him.

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2020, 04:11:29 pm
content: Yeah, sad to die just to hit 1500 m. Were it for 15000 m, at least that would have had more panache.The guy must have really obsessed over homemade rockets, because clearly 1500 m is an altitude you can reach with a myriad of other means pretty easily.A hot air balloon would have been much simpler and safer. The world record for a manned hor air ballon is currently over 21000 m altitude.Passion is good, obsession, not so much...

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2020, 04:20:35 pm
content: Quote from: mcovington on February 23, 2020, 04:05:31 pmCheck out the photo in the OP link, the rocket has " Flat Earth research" painted on it.

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2020, 04:28:22 pm
content: Quote from: Bud on February 23, 2020, 04:20:35 pmYup, this was discussed a while ago. The project was definitely at least partially funded by some flath-earthers, but as we said at the time, it's likely that the guy just didn't care who the money was from and it just allowed him to pursue his "passion".

author: donotdespisethesnake
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2020, 05:27:48 pm
content: Quote from: 0xdeadbeef on February 23, 2020, 03:49:11 pmThat explains one comment "the only surprise is that he lived as long as he did". If you live on the edge, it's easy to fall off.

author: Red Squirrel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2020, 05:41:26 pm
content: I remember hearing about him before. Maybe he had a few screws loose but still sad to see his experiment end it death. Hope he at least got to see the curvature before dying.

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2020, 07:22:09 pm
content: I'm surprised - I expected to see the poor sod auger in under power, but it looks like his attitude control system was pretty good, at least good enough to recover from a serious launch mishap. You can see what appears to be the capsule's descent parachute start to deploy when the rocket has barely left the launch rail, then it breaks away about a second into the flight, and the rocket wobbles severely then stabilises and continues to ascend. If he'd been wearing a reasonably reliable backup chute, + had effective means of blowing or rapidly exiting the capsule at apogee, odds are he'd still be alive today.

author: donotdespisethesnake
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2020, 09:09:32 pm
content: Quote from: Red Squirrel on February 23, 2020, 05:41:26 pmThere are safer experiments which can be conducted at ground level to determine the curvature of the Earth. I suspect though he may have had other issues on his mind, like how to survive without a parachute.

author: LaserSteve
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2020, 11:54:59 pm
content: IF that's his wife/daughter in the foreground on the camera with tripod, I find this video very sad/distasteful. Especially when that person sees the "no deploy" situation well before impact. If you turn up the volume the cry is heart wrenching.He achieved only 575 feet and a broken back due to excessive descent velocity on the first flight, that should have set up red flags right there. Makes me wonder why a loved one didn't try to stop round two.Steve

author: Nusa
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2020, 03:05:39 am
content: This appears to be the source of the footage used in the youtube video that failed to be funny above:https://twitter.com/justindchapman/status/1231336002175717376

author: george.b
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2020, 04:55:32 am
content: Quote from: Red Squirrel on February 23, 2020, 05:41:26 pmAt an altitude of 1500 meters? Nah.Talk about dying in vain.

author: duak
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2020, 06:15:33 am
content: First, my sympathies to all those affected by this accident. I can't think of any death that isn't a tragedy for someone.To change the subject slightly, how would a satellite orbit a flat Earth? Any ideas? I accept Newtonian and Einsteinian (General Relativity) as the simplest and most reasonable ways to explain orbits but a flat Earth must have truly horrendous preconditions and mathematics.

author: Moshly
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2020, 07:48:51 am
content: Wow, 'Wonderhussy' only just bumped into him last week, the craft had been damaged & he was doing car park repairs- from 3:30 >

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2020, 08:15:17 am
content: Quote from: duak on February 24, 2020, 06:15:33 amFlat Earthers generally believe NASA, SpaceX, and other major world governments are part of the conspiracy. Satellites either aren't real, or are orbiting at low altitudes within the atmosphere propelled in a similar way to aircraft, or are replaced on a daily basis through unknown means. In addition, every engineer involved in maintaining these satellites, as well as every amateur and professional pilot, and every major world government, is involved in this conspiracy.It is unclear why, if the world is indeed flat, that this needs to be hidden from the general population in such a proposed grand conspiracy - perhaps it would trigger insanity in aLovecraftian monstersense.

author: daqq
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2020, 08:25:18 am
content: Quote from: duak on February 24, 2020, 06:15:33 amI've looked into the flat Earth BS. Stuff attributed to satellites (sat phone coverage, GPS, high altitude aerial imagery) is apparently done by means of drones, balloons and cellular towers.Everyone who says otherwise is either a brain washed sheep or a part of the conspiracy. I work for a meteorological company and in our raw data we actually see the curvature of the Earth (weather radar data) and need to take it into account when projecting specific stuff. I have yet to receive my paycheck from the IlluminatiAlso, I'm guessing that about 90% of flat Earthers are trolls in it for the shits and giggles, 8% are idiots, plain and simple and 2% are in it just to sell merchandise and books to the 98%.Quote from: tom66 on February 24, 2020, 08:15:17 amI have looked into this as well. Opinions vary. One claim is that it would confirm god because the Bible claims a flat Earth. Another claim is that it's just NASA and other organizations creating a massive fraud in order to continue receiving funding.Don't look for logic and internal consistency, you will find none.

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2020, 08:51:10 am
content: Give him the Darwin awards, and move along.Could've let a weather balloon take up a Gopro, but no he had to rocket himself.Condolences to the family.

author: donotdespisethesnake
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2020, 12:05:45 pm
content: Quote from: tom66 on February 24, 2020, 08:15:17 amRecently I watched the Flat Earth documentary "Behind the Curve" on Netflix.One proposal is that by getting us to believe one big lie, it is easier for governments (or whoever) to believe other big lies, which are in their interest. By getting you to believe the "round Earth myth", then it is easier for them to make you believe "other lies", like chemtrails are harmless and not spreading mind control drugs.That reasoning is totally illogical of course. Unless the second lie depends on the first one being believed. Generally the mechanism of belief is not transferable, or trainable like a muscle.Although it does seem that if a person believes one conspiracy theory, they are much more likely to believe others. I had a neighbour like that, poor guy. I think that is more to do with the attraction of having "inside knowledge", and being a member of a group that believes that stuff is very rewarding. It's a bit like Scientology and other religions that entice members with the lure of secret truths, then bind them into a group. Then being a member of that group gives them a purpose they didn't have before. Leaving the group then becomes difficult, you have to abandon your new beliefs and your new friends.

author: TERRA Operative
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2020, 12:38:52 pm
content: Quote from: NANDBlog on February 24, 2020, 08:51:10 amNot if he already had kids......

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2020, 04:22:57 pm
content: Quote from: daqq on February 24, 2020, 08:25:18 amExcept...it doesn't.https://answersingenesis.org/astronomy/earth/does-bible-teach-earth-flat/

author: schmitt trigger
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2020, 04:35:13 pm
content: According to a NYT interview with his publicist, he mentions the following:"Mr. Shuster, his publicist, maintained that Mr. Hughes’s professed flat-Earth beliefs were simply intended to garner money and publicity for his stunts.Mr. Hughes “didn’t really care if the Earth was flat, and was fully ready to concede his error once he could see it with his own eyes in a final stunt that he was working towards,” the post read."In plain English, he was milking gullible people.https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/23/us/mad-mike-hughes-dead.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_200224&campaign_id=2&instance_id=16224&segment_id=21549&user_id=10ca517e806ee8b2b6c2d219d309c7d0&regi_id=371077490224

author: blacksheeplogic
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2020, 06:45:12 am
content: Quote from: daqq on February 24, 2020, 08:25:18 amI think their are many many trolls, but I also think you under estimate the number of idiots. There's also seems to be a notable faction who believe in a father in the sky and take a book some goat/camel herders wrote as a factual document that supports the flat earth.

author: blacksheeplogic
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2020, 06:47:12 am
content: Quote from: Cyberdragon on February 24, 2020, 04:22:57 pmYea right, lets give those creationists morons some credit.

author: donotdespisethesnake
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2020, 11:15:43 am
content: Quote from: schmitt trigger on February 24, 2020, 04:35:13 pmI guess that is an attempt to massage someone's reputation after death - as you would expect from a publicist. But that would be saying "he wasn't stupid, he was a fraudster!". Not really sure that helps his reputationTbh, I think his reputation as a Flat Earther who died trying is what people will remember, and will confirm the popular impression of Flat Earthers being less than sane. I only saw about one post on the net that was sympathetic, that was from the Science Channel who were exploiting him for their TV show.

author: daqq
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2020, 11:20:23 am
content: Quote from: Cyberdragon on February 24, 2020, 04:22:57 pmMy apologies. Corrected: One interpretation of collected goat herder mythology concludes that the Earth is flat. A different one does not.

author: schmitt trigger
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 26, 2020, 02:53:37 pm
content: The "science channel" should change their name to the "conspiracy and pseudo science channel".Its ratings would improve, for sure.

author: angrybird
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 26, 2020, 07:20:39 pm
content: I think a lot of "flat earthers" know the earth is round and are just having fun with this.The world has become too serious and emotional. People get emotional about everything nowadays, and seem to make many of their decisions and base many of their beliefs and principles on emotion. It seems that the entire world has forgotten that emotions always make bad decisions. I think it's great that this group has chosen something so ridiculous to pursue, I've talked to two of their members before and the conversations were just delightfully light hearted and silly.

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 27, 2020, 06:06:15 pm
content: Quote from: TERRA Operative on February 24, 2020, 12:38:52 pmOr if he was already disqualified for a Darwin award because he was 64 years old at the time of his death.He is survived by two children.So he is disqualified for a Darwin award on two counts.