Steam-Powered rocket engineer killed

[pendell]

We've discussed Mad Mike Hughes, the fellow who was determined to ascend in a home-made steam-powered rocket into space to prove the world flat, in this forum before. Regrettably, he died at the controls . Evidently the acceleration knocked him out, making him unable to deploy the parachute, and the backup chutes failed as well.

As terrible as this is, well, he was 64, and "Died at the controls of a steam-powered rocket" is still a more interesting epitaph than "died of dysentary" or cancer or what not.

Respectfully,

Brian P.

[Eldan]

By the way, it's now pretty much confirmed that he didn't believe in the flat Earth. People who knew him told the press he used Flat Earth as a publicity stunt, because he really wanted to fly steam rockets and needed funds.

[pendell]

By the way, it's now pretty much confirmed that he didn't believe in the flat Earth. People who knew him told the press he used Flat Earth as a publicity stunt, because he really wanted to fly steam rockets and needed funds.

Of course; that doesn't surprise me at all. I assumed it from the moment I read his history. He "discovered" flat earth because he wanted funding, but he wasn't a true believer.

Respectfully,

Brian P.

[Anonymouswizard]

As terrible as this is, well, he was 64, and "Died at the controls of a steam-powered rocket" is still a more interesting epitaph than "died of dysentary" or cancer or what not.

Compared to what I sometimes see* it's probably one of the nicer ways to go. I mean, it might not be the most painless death possible but I've seen people who have been in pain or immobile for years before their death.

On the one hand, I hope this will discourage people from making homemade rockets. On the other hand, I do want to live in a world where building a rocket in your back garden is a normal thing to do. One of the few things that make me feel better is that from my understanding he did know the risks he was taking and went into this hobby aware that it could cause his death.

* I work in an old folks home that deals with end of life, one of the company policies is to ensure that everybody below a certain standard of health is talked to about their funeral plans and if they want us to not ressucitate them if anything happens (and get all this stuff in writing).

[snowblizz]

Compared to what I sometimes see* it's probably one of the nicer ways to go. I mean, it might not be the most painless death possible but I've seen people who have been in pain or immobile for years before their death.

On the one hand, I hope this will discourage people from making homemade rockets. On the other hand, I do want to live in a world where building a rocket in your back garden is a normal thing to do. One of the few things that make me feel better is that from my understanding he did know the risks he was taking and went into this hobby aware that it could cause his death.

* I work in an old folks home that deals with end of life, one of the company policies is to ensure that everybody below a certain standard of health is talked to about their funeral plans and if they want us to not ressucitate them if anything happens (and get all this stuff in writing).

Will you be adding "strap me to a rocket" to the form?

[farothel]

Will you be adding "strap me to a rocket" to the form?

Or 'add rocket boosters to my wheelchair and launch me in Bonneville'. Might as wel get a world record out of it.

[Lvl 2 Expert]

"In case of heart attack do not resuscitate, but tie me to a rocket really quick so I technically went out awesome."

[pendell]

Will you be adding "strap me to a rocket" to the form?

*Breaks out his pen*

Tongue-in-cheek,

Brian P.

[J-H]

I think a lot of people forget that rocketry and spaceflight is dangerous. It still is (look at the Shuttle's record). Commercial spaceflight won't be airline-safe for a long time.

[Imbalance]

I think a lot of people forget that rocketry and spaceflight is dangerous. It still is (look at the Shuttle's record). Commercial spaceflight won't be airline-safe for a long time.

That's why DIY is the way to go. Mad Mike was on the right track, but first he showed us how NOT to make a steam rocket. If nothing else he has given credence to the legend of Wan Hu.

[Eldan]

Interestingly, the betting pool was almost entirely on "killed in steam vessel explosion before launch", not on "lethal crash".