Michael “Mad Mike” Hughes, a daredevil and self-taught rocket builder, gained notoriety for his homemade rocket launches and his association with the flat Earth theory. Here’s a timeline of key events from 2017 until his death:

2017-2018: Early Rocket Launches and Flat Earth Claims

In 2017, Hughes began preparing for a rocket launch sponsored by a group called Research Flat Earth1. He gained attention for his statements about not believing in science and his desire to see the Earth’s shape for himself1. In February 2018, Hughes successfully launched himself 1,875 feet into the air in a steam-powered rocket, despite suffering compressed vertebrae upon landing5.

2018-2019: Growing Fame and Continued Efforts

Hughes continued to make headlines with his rocket-building efforts and flat Earth beliefs. He expressed skepticism about various scientific concepts and historical events, including gravity, the moon landing, and the events of 9/112. During this period, Hughes was working on plans for more ambitious launches.

2020: Final Launch and Tragic End

On February 22, 2020, Hughes attempted his most daring launch yet near Barstow, California4. The goal was to reach an altitude of 5,000 feet in a steam-powered rocket he built with his partner Waldo Stakes5. This launch was being filmed for a Science Channel documentary series called “Homemade Astronauts”4.

Tragically, the launch went wrong. Shortly after takeoff, Hughes’ rocket crashed, resulting in his death at the age of 6434. Witnesses reported that a parachute deployed too early, potentially contributing to the crash4.

Post-Death Revelations

Throughout his endeavors, Hughes was known for his daredevil spirit and his desire to push boundaries. He once stated, “We are supposed to come to the end of our lives not with anything left, but everything exhausted,” reflecting his philosophy of living life to the fullest3.

Citations:

1. https://www.voanews.com/a/flat-earth-believer-mad-mike-hughes-dies-in-diy-rocket-crash/6742319.html
2. https://whyy.org/segments/the-life-and-death-of-daredevil-mad-mike-hughes/
3. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mad-mike-hughes-daredevil-and-flat-earth-theorist-killed-in-rocket-crash-2020-02-22/
4. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-51602655
5. https://www.space.com/daredevil-mad-mike-hughes-dies-in-homemade-rocket-launch.html
6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Hughes_(daredevil)
7. https://www.space.com/mad-mike-fatal-homemade-rocket-launch-flat-earth-theory.html
8. https://www.reddit.com/r/rocketry/comments/f84pyn/it_looks_like_mad_mike_hughes_has_been_killed/
9. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/announcing-17th-annual-new-yorker-festival-lisa-hughes
10. https://www.npr.org/2020/02/23/808645524/daredevil-mad-mike-hughes-killed-in-crash-of-homemade-rocket
11. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/23/us/mad-mike-hughes-dead.html
12. https://observer.com/2017/11/all-the-ways-mad-mike-hughes-homemade-rocket-launch-could-fail/
13. https://www.phillyvoice.com/folks-flat-earth-rocket-man-finally-launched-near-space/
14. https://www.thedrive.com/article/20084/the-strange-short-flight-of-flat-earth-rocket-man
15. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgcZ-PykOpQ
16. https://www.altaonline.com/dispatches/a7835/mad-mike-hughes-justin-chapman/
17. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21nPJY4le10

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