As Carl Sagan said, “We should confront ignorance with kindness” – something that’s not always easy to do, and sorely lacking in today’s world. We didn’t know what to expect when we decided to document his unusual life, and were fully prepared to dismiss him and his crazy ideas – but we ended up going on an incredible adventure and we gained new perspectives on how people view the world and our place in it. The filmmakers are deeply saddened at the news of Mad Mike.

The stunt that took his life was never intended to prove anything it was just another way for Mike to raise awareness and funding. He didn’t really care if the Earth was flat, and was fully ready to concede his error once he could see it with his own eyes in a final stunt that he was working towards – going 62 miles up to the edge of space in a contraption known as a rockoon. His flat Earth perspective brought attention and needed funds to his stunts, but it was a double-edged sword that also brought him ridicule. He had very little money, but he found a way to bring excitement and purpose to his life by doing affordable stunts with rockets that he built himself using spare parts. Ultimately, he just wanted to lead a meaningful life. He was often lonely and felt his accomplishments as a daredevil had been forgotten.

He had a soft spirit and empathy for the world that contrasted with his public persona. Although there were many things we disagreed on, we found commonality in his perspective of the human condition.

Hughes – ‘Mad’ Mike – perished yesterday during a rocket launch. By now I’m sure many of you have heard that Michael J.

Flat earth society launches rocket