American daredevil pilot "Mad" Mike Hughes has died after crash landing his homemade rocket in the desert near Barstow, California.
The 64-year-old Mike Hughes died after crash landing his steam-powered rocket shortly after take-off on Saturday. A video on social media depicted how the rocket was fired into the sky before plummeting to the ground nearby.
Hughes, who was well-known for his belief that the Earth was flat, hoped to prove his theory by going to space.
The rocket launch was reportedly filmed as part of Homemade Astronauts, a new television series to be aired on the US Science Channel which features amateur rocket makers. The project was being conducted on a tight budget.
According to Space.com, Hughes was trying to reach an altitude of 5,000 feet while riding his steam-powered rocket with the assistance of his partner Waldo Stakes. In the social media video, a parachute, which apparently deployed too early, can be seen trailing behind the rocket seconds after take off.
In a post on Twitter, the Science Channel stated Hughes passed away trying to achieve his dream. It said: "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 channel added.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department said its officers responded to a call to  a rocket launch event at around 14:00 local time on Saturday and "a man was pronounced deceased after the rocket crashed in the open desert".
Hughes' death was confirmed by his publicist to US media outlets.
Darren Shuster, a former representative for Hughes, described him as "one-of-a-kind". He said: "When God made Mike he broke the mold. The man was the real deal and lived to push the edge. He wouldn't have gone out any other way! RIP."
