Man dies in a homemade rocket while reportedly trying to prove flat-earth theory

Michael "Mad Mike" Hughes is dead following an attempt to prove the earth is flat, according to the BBC.

Other reporting, however, insists that Hughes was not attempting to prove his theory and was simply a rocket science-loving daredevil.

What are the details?

Hughes, 64, who believed the world is flat, crash-landed in a steam-powered rocket in the California desert on Feb. 22. The outlet reported that Hughes was attempting to enter space with his rocket during the experiment in order to prove that the earth is flat.

During the launch, Hughes' parachute came loose. Video of the incident shows the self-made projectile rocketing high into the air before crash landing moments later.

Hughes' launch was reportedly being filmed as part of a new Science Channel series called "Homemade Astronauts."

The Science Channel also reported Hughes' death, calling the experiment his "dream."

"Michael 'Mad Mike' Hughes tragically passed away today during an attempt to launch his homemade rocket. Our thoughts & prayers go out to his family & friends during this difficult time. It was always his dream to do this launch & Science Channel was there to chronicle his journey," the tweet read.

According to Space.com, Hughes said he previously was able to launch himself about 1,875 feet into the air in a younger iteration of his homemade rocket.

"It's a dangerous thing to do," he told the website in 2018. "Anything [going wrong] could be catastrophic."

What else?

Space.com reported, however, that Hughes "meant for this launch to be a stepping stone to the creation of what [he and a partner] called their 'rockoon,' a combination of a rocket and balloon."

The outlet noted that the "'rockoon' would work by means of a balloon taking a rocket up fairly high into the air (about 22 to 25 miles), where it would disconnect from the rocket, which would soar to the Kármán line, or the line signifying the beginning of space."

Hughes talked about his dream in 2017, as TheBlaze reported, saying, "If you're not scared to death, you're an idiot. 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. I'm a walking reality show."