This man is flying a homemade rocket into space to prove that the Earth is flat
When it comes to observing the world around us, there are a few things that pretty much all of us consider to be universal truths. Take the chemical composition of water, for instance, or how rainbows are formed, or that the moon orbits the earth.
However, there is one very well-known 'fact' that some people consider to be a lie. More than that, actually, there's a whole community of people who think that we've been lied to for centuries about the matter. I'm talking, of course, about The Flat Earth Society.
In their own words, "The Flat Earth Society mans the guns against oppression of thought and the Globularist lies of a new age. Standing with reason we offer a home to those wayward thinkers that march bravely on with REASON and TRUTH in recognizing the TRUE shape of the Earth - Flat."
And one of their members is slightly more dedicated than the others.
'Mad' Mike Hughes, a 61-year-old limo driver from California, is so dedicated to his belief that he's built his own rocket in order to observe the shape of the Earth from space. He plans to make the trip this weekend, and he's feeling pretty confident about it.
Speaking with the Associated Press, Hughes describes the concept of a round Earth as "the king of the deceptions," and is certain that his journey will open everybody's eyes to the 'truth'. "This is it," he said. "And once this domino falls and more people come to this side, then everything else — the dominos structure falls".
"I don’t believe in science. I know about aerodynamics and fluid dynamics and how things move through the air, about the certain size of rocket nozzles, and thrust. But that’s not science, that’s just a formula. There’s no difference between science and science fiction."
Hughes is convinced that the vessel, which was constructed using scrap metal and is powered by steam, will allow him to travel for approximately one mile above the Mojave Desert - high enough to see the curvature of the planet (or lack thereof).
He estimates that the rocket cost about $20,000 to make, and revealed that it was largely sponsored by a group called Research Flat Earth.
This isn't his first trip, either. Back in 2014, Mad Mike jetted off in a similar rocket over Arizona. Unfortunately, the endeavor didn't turn out too well, and the Flat-Earther sustained serious injuries which left him incapacitated for several weeks.
Despite his previous failure, Hughes isn't put off at all.
“If you’re not scared to death, you’re an idiot,” he said in an interview. “It’s scary as hell, but none of us are getting out of this world alive. I like to do extraordinary things that no one else can do, and no one in the history of mankind has designed, built and launched himself in his own rocket.”
Who knows - perhaps his mission will pay off, and we'll all wake up next week to news that our whole lives have been a lie. Personally, though, I'm not going to hold my breath.