Mad Mike Hughes, a 61-year-old Flat Earth Theorist, launched a homemade rocket into
the air in an attempt to prove that the world is not round.
You're watching What's Trending, I'm Shira Lazar. Be sure to like this video
and subscribe for more social media news daily. Out in the Mojave Desert,
Hughes' rocket shot 1,875 feet into the air before coming back down to earth. He
hit a top speed of 350 miles per hour before descending, and needed two
parachutes to slow himself down. It was a bit of a rough landing though, which left
Hughes with some bruises, but he says he's okay. After landing, he told The
Associated Press: "I'm tired of people saying I chickened out and didn't build
a rocket. I'm tired of that stuff. I manned up and did it." He's been planning
this launch for months, but it was postponed several times due to
mechanical issues and problems with the Bureau of Land Management. But he finally
pulls it off and recorded it through a partnership with the Facebook channel,
NoizeTV. That name, "Mad Mike," is self-applied. He's been a daredevil for
years and previously set the world record for jumping a limousine. What a
rebel. Now the whole point of this is for him to launch himself high enough so
that eventually he can see the edge of the earth. You know, since the Earth is
flat. Right? Where my Flat Earth Conspiracy Theorist at? You know who you
are. Don't be shy. Although, at times, Hughes isn't 100% committed
to the Flat Earth cause. He told the AP: "Do I believe the Earth is shaped like a
Frisbee? I believe it is. Do I know for sure? No. That's why I want to go up in
space." It's unlikely that he got high enough to notice anything we have not
seen before. After all, he was only up there for a few seconds... and it would
probably be a lot cheaper to just purchase a high-altitude drone, some of
which have a range of several kilometers. On the Flat Earth theory, he added this:
"The problem is it brings out all the nuts also, people questioning everything.
It's a downside of all of this." So you're a victim to your crazy
theories. Okay. I get it. And it's good to know that the downside of the Flat Earth
Society is that it's filled with nuts. You see Flat-Earthers believe that the
Earth is not a globe, but a wide disc with all the continents and oceans
surrounded by a giant ice wall that keeps everything from falling off. And
gravity is just there because the disc is continually rising upward into the
sky. Can't we just, isn't it just simpler to be like agreed
that it's round? Because you know Buzz Aldrin once tweeted that it was just all
a joke and he didn't actually walk on the moon. And then he deleted it, so it
must be true. It's all explained clearly in this BuzzFeed video. Antarctic
surrounds the Earth and keeps the water in between the ice mass just like this.
Look at that. These are the principles of the Flat Earth Society. Of course the
Earth is round! I mean, come on. We've got all kinds of evidence, like the fact that
satellites orbit the thing, we've got photos and videos from space, and I mean
you never see a giant ice wall when you're on a flight. Hughes is now being
followed by a film crew for a documentary planned to be released in
August, which will likely also detail his campaign for governor of California. Wait.
What? Is this the plot twist? Is this for real? He's running for governor of
California? This is almost as funny as the rent is too damn high guy who ran
for mayor. And now the Internet is having a little fun with Mad Mike, and can you
blame them? Addam Bombb tweeted: "Mad Mike doubted the Earth is round, Mad Mike
wanted to leave the ground, Emptied his pockets, Built a junk rocket, And proved
the theory of gravity sound. Yeah. Jock_Dock says: "All that for a measly 1,875
feet? He could have spent less on a trip to Toronto and take it in an elevator to
the top of the CN Tower!" Hate to break it to you Jock, but the
CN tower is only 1,815 feet. Mad Mike beat that by a couple of stories. So do
you think the Earth is flat and would you vote for Mad Mike as governor? Let us
know in the comments below and be sure to like and subscribe for more of What's
Trending. And for more stories go to whatstrending.com.