I figured that would be the end of it. Its suspected that Mike blacked out due to the rocket having blasted off at around 500 MPH. 2018 poll found that two percent of more than 10,000 respondents, watched the rocket launch on a livestream, Brian Walshe to Be Charged with Murder of His Missing Wife, Ron Jeremy Found Not Competent to Stand Trial in Serial Rape Case, The Genetic Mutation That Makes Kraken Covid So Contagious, The Boy Just Aint Smart': How Stephen A. Smith Overcame a Learning Disability to Become the Most Passionate Voice in Sports, Andrew Callaghan Apologizes: I've Always Taken No for an Answer as Far as Consent, Fall Out Boy Announce First Album in 5 Years, Share Love From The Other Side Video. Despite the utter lack of evidence surrounding the Flat Earth theory and intense criticism from scientists like Neil deGrasse Tyson, the Flat Earth theory has gained traction in recent years (one 2018 poll found that two percent of more than 10,000 respondents harbored such views), and has been promoted by such high-profile figures as Kyrie Irving and musician B.o.B. If those people promoting a flat earth for profit and dont believe the earth is flat had any decency, I would hope the death of Mike Hughes would cause them to stop. Felix Baumgartner and Alan Eustace had spent a gazillion dollars and years of preparation on sophisticated equipment and huge engineering teams to ride balloons up 24 and 26 miles, respectively, and then parachute back to terra firma. The next year, he tried for a new record of 125 feet, covering his body in bubble wrap and gunning his 3-ton white Cadillac limousine up a ramp at 65 mph at the Orange Show Speedway in San Bernardino. As of 2020, Mikes net worth was estimated at $500 thousand. He was 64. I didnt see it. Released in August 2019, this 94-minute documentary, co-directed by Toby Brusseau and Michael Linn, starred Mike Hughes, Waldo Sykes, Patrick Marchese. Sure enough, I approached WIRED and got a green light. The day before the scheduled launch, I received a text from Waldo with a photo of the rocket already mounted on the launch rail. [15], A successful launch on March 24, 2018, resulted in his reaching a height of 1,875 feet (572m) and a hard landing in the Mojave Desert. And what was the point? I listened skeptically as Waldo sketched out the scenario in the wood-paneled living room of Mikes small, dark, sparsely furnished house, while four cats slinked shamelessly over the sofa and coffee table. You're almost done! Already Ive seen some flat-earthers claim that nefarious agents of the government sabotaged and hence assassinated Hughes. Down the line! It drives me crazy. I think thats what hit us then and there: this is completely dangerous. An O-ring failed. He postponed his launch due to mechanical troubles. Assorted flat-Earthers and conspiracy theorists. Mikes height and weight hadnt been disclosed publically. [4], In 2002, Hughes set a Guinness World Record with a 103-foot (31m) jump in a Lincoln Town Car stretch limousine. When the superheated water is released, it passes through a nozzle at the base of the fuselage and turns to steam, producing the thrust necessary to launch the rocket. Alex Wigglesworth is an environment reporter who covers wildfires for the Los Angeles Times. I love that ending, where he was able to be successful, Brusseau said. "[5] A fundraising campaign to cover the costs of the delay raised around $100 of its $10,000 goal. Should the scientific community trust him? He must have realized that the launch was a fools play, pulling to an inside straight, but it was the only play he had. The death of "Mad" Mike Hughes has brought attention to the danger of promoting pseudoscience but Flat Earthers stand by their "mission". His post-flat-Earth fundraising campaign made its $7,875 goal. Daredevil, Is Killed in Rocket Crash", "NEWS: 'Flat Earth' Daredevil Dies in Homemade Rocket Stunt", "Death Valley Girls Share Video for "(One Less Thing) Before I Die", "Death Valley Girls - "(One Less Thing) Before I Die" Video", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mike_Hughes_(daredevil)&oldid=1134002496, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 16 January 2023, at 14:50. There have been other terrible injuries. Progress ceased when Mike was arrested and jailed for extortion, but work resumed after a benefactor bailed him out. Its easy to ridicule the Mike Hugheses of the world, have-nothings who gamble their lives on a lottery offering only a microscopic chance of success. Why would people promote such a lie? Our thoughts & prayers go out to his family & friends during this difficult time. (single, married, in relation or divorce). Despite my misgivings, I was intrigued. For a sickening moment, I thought it might angle disastrously sideways, like a ballistic missile. So instead of floating gently to the ground, he crash-landed after a wild 11-second flight. Last spring, Waldo called to tell me hed hatched a crazily ambitious plan: He wanted to send Mike into space. Thats why me and Waldo didnt get too involved in helping him build it.. More people will watch this than the supposed moon landing.. Videos of the launch show that his parachute opened and detached from the rocket almost instantly, dooming Hughes to a high-velocity impact on the desert floor shortly after that. He thought the lunar landing had been a hoax. Question what really happened during the Civil War. mike hughes cause of death His mission was to launch his vessel to a height of 35,000-feet in . A US daredevil pilot has been killed during an attempted launch of a homemade rocket in the Californian desert. I'm not much for authority or rules. Because it was people like me who imbued his quest with some larger meaning. The 1:53 min long video was directed by Kansas Bowling and featured footage of his "Flat Earth" rocket launch in Apple Valley. Daredevil Flat Earther 'Mad Mike' Hughes Dies When Self-Made Rocket Crashes Yeah, I guess. Heres what happens on the longest night of the yearin the solar system and across different cultures here on Earth. Ill feel it in the morning. His launch was reportedly filmed as part of Homemade Astronauts, a new TV series about amateur rocket makers. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. 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It is unknown to us exactly what he did to earn an income, but it was clearly earning something because he invested a lot into building his home made rockets trying to prove his false claims of flat earth. Help us to update this page. Never really paid attention to him, Flat Earther Ben Long tells Rolling Stone. He, in turn, was fascinated by daredevils, from Evel Knievel to Annie Edson Taylor, the retired schoolteacher who plunged down Niagara Falls inside a barrel in 1901. But the more Waldo talked, the more credible the project sounded. She currently lives in Inglewood. Privacy Policy and Chute! However, his landing led him three days to recover. In the days leading up to the fatal crash, Discovery.com posted a video of Hughes showing off the rocket in his front yard. He was likable, funny, and surprisingly boyish for somebody who was nearly 64. What people need to realize is this is going to be the most-watched event in the history of mankind. I talked to a couple from Fountain Valley whose sons had met Waldo and Mike, and I hung for a bit with a pair of local firefighters whod seen something about the launch on social media. Finally, Waldo and several of Mikes friends began walking toward the wreckage. In 2017, Mike and Waldo trucked a new rocket deep into the Mojave Desert to a barren stretch of land near the tiny Route 66 outpost of Amboy. And spreading pseudoscience., Those within the community itself, however (some of whom had watched the rocket launch on a livestream), appear unruffled, if not more confident in its mission than ever. Very likely did not survive. The rocket appeared to rub against the launch apparatus, which might have torn the parachutes attached to it, according to Justin. He died following his rocket crash-landing in the open desert in California on 22 February 2020. Over the years, hed worked as a motorcycle racer, race car fabricator, race car mechanic, NASCAR crew chief, and limousine driver. You can also sign up for our free print newsletter (US only). Filming fo the Science Channel series, Homemade Astronauts, with the help of his partner Waldo Sykes, Hughess goal was to reach 5,000 feet in the air while riding his steam-powered rocket, according to Space.com. [4] Terms of Service apply. And they planned to do it with a spacecraft built at El Ranchito Rakete. You could argue that Mike knew what he was getting into, and hed signed the liability waivers to prove it. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. On February 22, Daredevil "Mad Mike" Hughes perished when his steam-engined rocket crashed in the Barstow, California desert. I could run for governor and be a shoo-in. This California farm kingdom holds a key, Six people, including mother and baby, killed in Tulare County; drug cartel suspected, These are the 101 best restaurants in Los Angeles, New Bay Area maps show hidden flood risk from sea level rise and groundwater, Gina Lollobrigida, film star who conquered Italy, Hollywood and the world, dies at 95, Storm sets new L.A. rain records. He blamed permission difficulties for rescheduling his launch. Hughes said afterward, Am I glad I did it? Re: Death of Mike Hughes Reply #31 on: March 02, 2020, 12:57:32 PM Yes, publically he was a flat earth believer, however behind the scenes there is a lot of evidence to suggest he wasn't, and just slapped the sticker on because then he gets media attention. Hughes defiantly stated that the dispute would not stop him from flying: "I'm a daredevil. Insanethats what I was thinking. This was it. Please follow the instructions we emailed you in order to finish subscribing. Hughes spent his childhood in Oklahoma City. Released in August 2019, this 94-minute documentary, co-directed by Toby Brusseau and Michael Linn, starred Mike Hughes, Waldo Sykes, Patrick Marchese. Death Cause. Fame and fortune? Times staff writer David Zahniser contributed to this story. Mike wanted to build the rocket himself, he said. [3] Although a public promoter of the flat Earth model, following his death his public relations representative said that Hughes had only used flat Earth as a PR stunt to acquire funding for his rockets. It was weeks before he was able to walk without aid. Then, he planned to launch the rocket on the 10th of August 2019, which was postponed. I put my trust in Waldos assessment of Mike: Hes got a lucky star. Death of rocket man 'Mad Mike' Hughes ends years of close calls "Mad Mike" Hughes died Saturday at age 64. If hed succeeded, the flight would have been a scene in my story and a segment in the reality-TV show. "There were a couple of live streamers, like . Dramatic video footage of the botched stunt posted on social media appears to indicate that there was a problem with his parachute. But we also knew that the boldness of the project, the eccentricities of the central characters, and the challenges of hacking together a homebuilt spacecraft on a shoestring budget would make for a compelling read. Even Sargent, a member of a community that raised money to support Hughes daredevil efforts, questioned the decision to make the documentary. Everybody lingered near the launch pad in a surreal state of shock and confusion. However, Hughes seemed to love his day job and proudly turned his limo into a vehicle that could be mistaken for a Batmobile. The mood was upbeat and anticipatory, not unlike the crowd assembled for a rock music festival, but without the weed. Chute. In 2002, he had already set a Guinness Word Record as he jumped about 103 foot in at Lincon Car stretch Limo. What did he expect? When the rocket cleared the rail, it shifted to the right, as if it had been hip-checked by an rogue air current. There were concerns about potentially boosting the profile of a flat-Eartheror gratuitously ridiculing onebut we agreed that deft writing and editing could skirt those issues. Hughes was officially pronounced dead at 5:34 p.m. An autopsy revealed that he had died of acute coronary thrombosis, brought on by premature hardening of the arteries. Waldo told me a generator was down on power. Chute! Mike Hudges was an American limo driver and daredevil. Waldo (left) and Mike confer at the launch in Amboy. Still, other flat-earthers believe that Hughes never thought the earth is flat but merely used the flat-earth movement to gain fame and financial backing. After Mikes death, Science Channel mourn with condolence by saying, Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mike Hughes family and friends during this difficult time. His publicist, Darren Shuster, said Saturday that the flat Earth thing was a PR stunt we dreamed up to get publicity and attract sponsors for the rockets that the self-taught engineer made in his garage at his home in Apple Valley, Calif. For me, Flat Earth is bigger than my friends and family and even my own life. A handful of newcomers had shown up. He lived in California. At least I can go home and have dinner and see my cats tonight., A post shared by Rocketman. And we in the media enabled him. Mike's steam rocket on the launch rail in August 2019. Instead of Amboy, it would take place in a less remote spotwith cell phone service, hallelujah!eight miles south of Barstow. Its not clear if he was successful. Ad Choices, DIY Rockets, Daredevils, and the Tragedy of Mad Mike Hughes. CHUTE! Video posted online shows the exact moment Mad Mike Hughes homemade rocket came crashing down to Earth after a failed launch attempt, killing the self-styled daredevil. Mike even stated that he was in a walker for two weeks from the injuries. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mike Hughes family and friends during this difficult time. Then somebody muttered, You dont survive that., Although paramedics hustled to the crash, there was no official announcement. After three weekends of failure, Mike and Waldo put the project on hiatus. I spent four days over two weekends in Amboy. At least I enabled him. Try downloading another browser like Chrome or Firefox. He had previously scheduled his launch for 25 November 2017. So it was possible to indulge in some magical thinking and imagine that maybe, against all odds, Mike might be able to emerge from the cockpit reasonably unscathed. I think that Samuel Rowbotham, who launched the flat-earth movement in the 19th century, fell into this category. It was getting him back alive. [29][30], Daredevil Mad Mike Hughes Death, Rocket Crash, reach above the atmosphere into outer space, List of inventors killed by their own inventions, "Self-Taught Rocket Scientist Mad Mike Hughes Plans to Launch Over Ghost Town", "Daredevil dies after homemade rocket crashes in desert while filming TV show", "Death of rocket man 'Mad Mike' Hughes ends years of close calls", "A flat-Earther's plan to launch himself in a homemade rocket has been postponed again", "Flat-Earther's steam-powered rocket lofts him 1,875 feet up into Mojave Desert sky", "Flat-Earther 'Mad' Mike Hughes forced to delay launch of homemade rocket", "A flat-Earther's plan to launch himself in a homemade rocket just hit a speed bump", "Self-taught rocket scientist 'Mad' Mike Hughes blasts off into California sky", "Self-taught rocket scientist eyes new launch date in Calif", "Analysis | A flat-earther finally tried to fly away. It featured the homemade rocket engineers on . [8], At the time of his death, Hughes lived in Apple Valley, California. No, I didnt kill Mike, but I was part of the ecosystem that exploited him, and thats on me. The 64-year-old American daredevil and flat Earth cons michael hughes 1887 1957 michael hughes, Circa 1887 - 1957 . For me, the Research Flat Earth livery on the rocket was tangible proof that the project was nothing more than a circus sideshow, and I was relieved that Id stayed away. Mad Mike Hughes net worth: Mad Mike had an estimated net worth of around $650,000 before his death. Related Mike Hughes started to gain the limelight after setting a Guinness world record holder for jumping 103-foot in a Lincoln Town Car stretch limo. Very likely did not survive. With time their family will shares his funeral information publically. Daredevil and Amateur rocket-engineer, Mike Hughes died aged 64 on the 22nd of February 2020. He seemed to be speaking to himself as much as me. A heater core leaked. It was always his dream to do this launch, and Science Channel was there to chronicle his journey.. Hughes famously launched himself nearly 1,900 feet upward in a homemade steam-powered rocket early in 2018. And basically, its just to convince people they can do things extraordinary with their lives, and maybe it pushes people to do things they normally wouldnt do with their life that maybe will inspire someone else.. And Ill always regret it. A freelance journalist named Justin Chapman and his wife witnessed this crash. Internet Explorer is no longer supported. Why didnt we turn away? He wanted to do something original, and he came up with the idea of jumping a limo, Brusseau said. Nature had given Hughes the heart of a 60-year-old man. I didnt care about the steam rocket per se, since it had nothing to do with the space project. He desperately wanted to be rich and famous and realized that his most marketable asset was his willingness to risk his life, so he risked it often. His launch was reportedly filmed as part of Homemade Astronauts, a new TV series about amateur rocket makers. He was a lonely guy, Linn said. We've received your submission. A tire blew out. Hughes 2002 feat in Perris, California still holds the world record for longest limousine ramp jump, according to the Guinness World Records website. Daredevil 'Mad' Mike Hughes has died after launching himself into the air on a homemade rocket that later crash landed, possibly due to a parachute malfunction. Freelance journalist Justin Chapman is writing a book about Hughes, and was at the final launch in the desert outside Barstow, Calif. "There were about 50 spectators there," Chapman said. He gained support within the flat-Earth community in 2016. But I didnt say anything, just as Id never said anything about the lack of an automatic parachute-deployment system, which seemed like a no-brainer. On the 3rd of February 2018, Mike began his live-stream, where his rocket steam release malfunction leading the launch aborted. However, he holds the American nationality and white ethnical background. MIKE, THROW THE GODDAMNED CHUTE!. He seriously injured his back when a mountain of car tires intended to cushion his landing separated, and he crashed into a wall. In a press release shared by The Hollywood Reporter, Mike Hughes and Waldo Stakes are working on a manned rocket to space, designing what they call a rock-oon part rocket, part balloon that they hope to use to get Hughes to the Karman line, the border between Earths atmosphere and outer space, which is about 62 miles high. Some undoubtedly do it for pleasure. Head coach Joe Schmidt and the entire Lions team attended Hughes' funeral in San Antonio. A self-taught engineer, Hughes was also a staunch flat-earther. After he shared his belief of a flat earth, he gained support from the Flat-Earth community. I also wondered if Hughes was serious about the earth being flat; assuming he was, I thought about the implications of his death when it came. [8], Hughes planned to again launch himself in a rocket on August 10, 2019,[17] but mechanical troubles postponed the launch. They didnt, naturally. Chute. Who makes jury-rig fixes at the eleventh hour when somebodys life is on the line? There was no stopping him, Linn said. This story has been shared 100,258 times. A group of spectators gathered around him. Mike would have been just as dead if hed been killed trying to fly to space. Your email address will not be published. Waldo, Mike, and their small but intensely loyal and hard-working crew were constantly clambering over the rocket and the launch rigwelding, hammering, grinding, cutting. Yeah, for sure, absolutely it was. Without an audience, he was just a lone lunatic shouting incoherently in a barren desert. A launch date was set for late February. The author interviewing Mike while the TV crew films, August 2019. I took Mike aside and told him, Dont get in that rocket unless you feel comfortable. As it happened, the rocket wasnt ready to fly in time. Daredevil Mad Mike Hughes perishedwhen his steam-engined rocket crashed, https://twitter.com/_/status/1231336002175717376. World of Wonder Productionsthe television company behind RuPauls Drag Raceevidently reached a similar conclusion and signed Mike and Waldo to a Science Channel reality show tentatively titled Homemade Astronauts. But he was impressed with the audacity of Mikes vision. [10][21] A witness at the launch, freelance journalist Justin Chapman, said that the rocket appeared to rub against the launch apparatus and ladder, perhaps tearing the parachutes. According to the BLM, after seeing some news articles about the planned launch, a BLM representative reached out to Hughes with concerns. Well, of course he got killed. He was known as Mad Mike Hughes. Editors picks Homepage / Uncategorized / mike hughes cause of death; mike hughes cause of death. That launch seemed to go flawlessly, as the parachute remained intact and slowed his descent. When he paused, a woman asked in a small, breathless voice: Is he OK? No, Waldo said flatly. The reaction of the flat-earth community has been varied. Fatal Rocket Crash Landing", "Daredevil dies during homemade rocket launch in California", "A Daredevil Flat Earther Died After Attempting To Launch Himself 5,000 Feet With A Homemade Rocket", "Mike Hughes, 64, D.I.Y. Hughes died in a rocket crash on February 22, 2020. [8], In 2016, Hughes launched a failed fundraising attempt for a rocket that raised $310. Waldo speculates that the violence of the shift knocked Mike unconscious. His mission was to launch his vesselto a height of 35,000-feet in an attempt to confirm his theory that the earth is flat. According to CBC News, Hughes collapsed after the landing and it took him three days to recover. Also, their homemade rocket was for a Science Channel series, Homemade Astronauts. This was in Amboy. I had no attachment to him or his rocket launches. Ive watched plenty of amateur high-power rocket launches over the years, and I know that they come off the rail fast, not with the deliberate majesty of a Saturn V straining against the bounds of gravity. He died following his steam-powered rocket crash-landing an open desert in Barstow, California. Eventually, he successfully raised the $7,875 fund from the campaign. I didnt join them. He raised thousands of dollars onGoFundMe to finance the construction of his rockets. Periodically, Waldo would call me with updates. Before his death, Mike had lived a married man. In the aftermath of Hughess death, many viewed it as the ultimate culmination of the dangers of pseudoscience, heavily criticizing the media, particularly the Science Channel, for giving oxygen to his views. The tragic difference here is that he was duped into a ridiculous and unnecessary proof of something that is already beyond requiring any further evidence. The documentary has a happy ending, one that the filmmakers wish translated to real life. Video of the tragic accident, which took place in Barstow, California, was captured by reporter Justin Chapman. Flat Earth-assisted crowdfunding campaigns. Not because I designed or built the rocket, and not because I belted him into the cockpit. I knew, and I was there just the same. But its the price I pay for a life thats not boring.. [16] The steam-powered rocket launched at a sharp angle to avoid falling back to Earth on public land, and landed about 1,500 feet (460m) away from the launch point. But as it gathered speed, the rocket transitioned to vertical, flying straight up on a white plume. In response to a request for comment, a representative for the Science Channel said, Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends during this difficult time. Water stored in a vessel is heated to reach a predetermined pressure. The phenomenon threatens local drinking water, and scientists think climate change may be the culprit. Turns out that a pair of auxiliary chutes had blown off the rocket as it left the launch rail.
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