The live video of National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) launch of SpaceX into orbit last May 30 has spurred people online to search for flat earthers.
Astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken are on board a Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon crew capsule, the first time that NASA deployed a private spaceship. It has to reach the orbit before heading to the International Space Station (ISS).
“Thank you for the first human ride for Falcon 9. It was incredible…appreciate all the hard work and thanks for the great ride to space,” Hurley said in a radio message to Earth when the spacecraft crossed the orbit.
With the footage showing concrete evidence that the Earth is, in fact, spherical, people have resorted to calling out flat earthers. A user said:
“‘Hey #FlatEarth, we just launched two Americans into space completely live, with tons of live footage. Absolutely no way it could have been fake. Suck it, flerfs.”
In spite of the glaring fact, there were those who still do not believe it and cling on the conspiracy theory.
“Oh they’re in space now but they’re surrounded by a bright white set, and that layering animation on the right is so awfully done it’s like a 1999 computer game,” posted a member of a Flat Earthers’ Facebook group, as documented by a screengrab.
Another account said:
“Why do you think Earth is a globe? Because you see Photoshop images of it. Have you ever tried to prove the globe independently? If not, then you have no evidence of a globe.”
It could be remembered that just last February, the self-made rocket constructed by Michael ‘Mad Mike’ Hughes, a famous flat earth-believer, plunged in California which resulted in his death.
Meanwhile, NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine regarded the launch as “an amazing day.” He further said:
“I’m breathing a sigh of relief but I won’t be celebrating until Bob and Doug are home safely.”
The automated process of the aircraft would lead the astronauts to land at the ISS at 15:30 BST if no issues were to arise.
The event made a user conclude:
“One thing I can certainly clear up after watching that amazing event… the Earth is definitely not flat. Sorry Flat Earthers you’ve been debunked.”