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Flat Earther gets exclusive access to NASA launchpads and his reaction left the host stunned
16:27 24 Sep 2026 GMT+1
Flat Earthers are often some of the hardest people to negotiate beliefs with, yet one space expert on YouTube attempted to change a conspiracy enthusiast's mind by taking him around NASA's Kennedy Space Center.
It's commonly the case where Flat Earthers don't just believe that our planet isn't round, but also subscribe to a number of other wild theories relating to the wider universe, including that NASA never landed on the Moon and even that space itself might not even exist.
That appears to be the case with prominent conspiracy head Justin Harvey, 30, who caught the attention of Jack Gordon on YouTube for his unorthodox beliefs, including the idea that the bones of dinosaurs belong instead to dragons and giants.
Gordon made sure to start of the video with a message that declares everything Justin says in the video to be false – as the Earth is indeed round – but his task was to convince the Flat Earther of this fact, which was likely to prove difficult considering his stubbornness.
In order to do so he took Justin around the Kennedy Space Center, showing him a number of iconic space exhibits, which includes the spacecraft that took astronauts to the Moon, and even took him close to the launchpads that operate all the time.
What does the Flat Earther claim?
While there's frankly too many claims littered throughout the 13-minute-long video to tally, key to Justin's beliefs are the notion that the Earth is completely flat and that NASA are perpetuating the 'false' belief that it's round by conducting fake space launches.
He claims that nobody can really know where rockets 'go' after they launch from the Kennedy Space Center and other key locations across the world, and that NASA often disposes of them in the Bermuda Triangle to hide the truth from the public.
As for the astronauts, they're never actually on the flights themselves and are viewed inside hidden filming centers with green screens and elaborately-painted backgrounds designed to mimic the darkness of space — and anyone who claims to have been in space or low-gravity environments is either lying or has been decieved.
"I think if the people were in [a spacecraft] they were in on it, unfortunately," Justin boldly claimed when pressed by Jack. "You know, it's really landing, it's really taking off, it's really breaking the sound barrier, but I just don't think it's going to space."
Justin also suggests that Antarctica is at the edges of our so-called 'flat' Earth, and that attempting to travel any further than these limits to see what lies beyond them will leave you stopped by the military.
Did the trip around the Kennedy Space Center change his mind?
Unfortunately the experience of seeing space history in front of him wasn't enough to change Justin's mind, but that was unlikely from the very beginning as he noted that it would take a lot to break him from his beliefs.
He likened the Kennedy Space Center to a 'theme park' for those who want to believe in the myth of space and a round Earth, but did show signs of relenting slightly when presented with a select few experiences.
Seeing information about Jared Isaacman, current NASA Administrator and the first civilian to conduct a space walk, did seem to sway him slightly as he views Isaacman as a 'good guy', but he still doesn't think he's telling the truth.
At the end though he did seem to enjoy his tour, admitting that "regardless if it's fake or not, or [if the] globe is round, it's still kind of cool to see all this stuff. They're really building rockets. There's really smart people working on these things."
https://www.uniladtech.com/science/space/flat-earther-nasa-launch-reaction-stuns-people-404099-20260924
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NT-Lmibxlxg
moar
https://nasawatch.com/2026/09/23/super-intelligence-has-arrived/
https://www.umass.edu/news/article/umass-amherst-astronomer-alexandra-pope-science-team-lead-new-nasa-space-telescope
https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/spacestation/2026/09/24/advanced-health-tech-research-continues-to-protect-astronaut-health/
https://science.nasa.gov/earth/earth-observatory/cloudy-cloak-over-the-northwest/
Thomas Pesquet
@Thom_astro
🛗 In the “world's best elevators” category, we knew the one in the launch tower at Cape Canaveral, where the button for the top floor is labeled “outer space” 🌎✨, but it looks like NASA’s Johnson Space Center has a few nominees of its own.
On the way up to the office (on the 6th floor for the astronauts 👨🚀👩🚀), you can pick your favorite space theme: @Space_Station 🛰️, Space Shuttle 🚀 or Moon… 🌕 Not a bad way to start the day. ☀️
If you have nominees for the Elevator Awards 🏆, send us your suggestions in the comments.
https://x.com/Thom_astro/status/2103143196553277795
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https://x.com/NASAJPL/status/2103176483397329012
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https://x.com/vast/status/2102868894700695719
https://news.arizona.edu/news/nasa-administrator-jared-isaacman-inspires-u-students-help-shape-golden-age-space-exploration
https://x.com/NASAAdmin/status/2102840352344510625
https://x.com/NASAAdmin/status/2102912379474588084
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NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman inspires U of A students to help shape the golden age of space exploration
September 24, 2026
More than 650 students and community members filled the Bear Down Building Wednesday as NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman brought the agency's Inspiration Tour to the University of Arizona, sparking excitement about where America is headed in space and the opportunities for a new generation to help shape it. "The reputation of the U of A and its optics work is some of the best in the country, and not to mention all of its cameras out there helping us on the James Webb and providing us with unbelievable imagery of the Martian surface," Isaacman said.
"What an absolutely amazing university for contributing to this great mission of discovery."
Students from Tucson-area high schools, the U of A, Pima Community College and Tohono O'odham Community College engaged directly with Isaacman, asking questions about space debris, black holes and the pace of space missions.
"Above all, we need people with the talent and drive to take on the problems that do look impossible, right up until somebody solves them," Isaacman said. "That is where we need many of you and many more just like you across America to help us advance humankind even further.
We need engineers, we need scientists, we need technicians, entrepreneurs, researchers, operators, explorers. We need astronauts. You are all part of the Artemis generation, and America and NASA are very much back in the moon business."
The visit marked the only Inspiration Tour stop at an Arizona university and connected a space legacy stretching back more than 60 years with the students and technologies shaping what comes next.
"The University of Arizona has been a NASA partner since the earliest days of the space age, and that relationship has only grown stronger," U of A President Suresh Garimella said.
"Our students are involved in active NASA missions alongside the best scientists and engineers in the world, and today we were excited to open that world to future Wildcats from high schools and community colleges across Southern Arizona.
As the top public university for space sciences in the nation, we are proud to put everything that contributes to that standing and this partnership to work for the students who will lead the next era of exploration."
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The U of A's contributions to NASA missions reach back to the Ranger era before Apollo.
University researchers have since played leading roles in missions including OSIRIS-REx, which returned NASA's first asteroid sample to Earth, the James Webb Space Telescope, the Spitzer Space Telescope and the Hubble Space Telescope.
Today, the U of A ranks No. 1 in space sciences among U.S. public universities and No. 3 globally.
Before the student event, U of A Space Institute Director Erika Hamden and Tomás Díaz de la Rubia, senior vice president for research and partnerships, welcomed Isaacman and the NASA team to the Applied Research Building for a tour of the university's space research and engineering capabilities.
"Space exploration is no longer the work of governments alone, and Administrator Isaacman, who commanded the first all-civilian orbital mission, understands firsthand how much the space enterprise is changing," Díaz de la Rubia said.
"In this new era, universities matter more, not less. We are where fundamental science happens, where new technologies can be proven at exceptional value and where the talent that will power every part of this enterprise is developed.
Today, Administrator Isaacman saw all three in one building, and our students saw just how far their work could take them."
Stops included an anechoic chamber used to test satellite communications and the high bay housing the Magnum and Arizona Radio telescopes.
In the Multi-Mission Operations Center, where the U of A operates NASA's Pandora exoplanet satellite, Isaacman met with students and researchers working on missions and technologies spanning Earth orbit, Mars, the moon and beyond.
"I'm so thrilled that the administrator was able to see our state-of-the-art facility and also meet with the students who drive all of our work. So many of our space missions have student involvement as an intrinsic part of their development, which gives those students the unique experience of building something that goes to space," Hamden said. "Our showcase was really just the tip of the iceberg for the amazing work we do here."
On Aspera, a NASA SmallSat slated to launch in January, students are helping develop a mission that will study how galaxies form and evolve.
For CatSat, a student-built SmallSat, the team is testing an inflatable antenna designed for high-speed communications. "Sharing this with a big delegation from NASA is huge," said CatSat student lead Walter Rahmer.
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Perigee Podcast Episode 41 - Chief of Space Operations General Chance Saltzman
Sep 23, 2026
Episode 41 of the Perigee Podcast, hosted by Chief Master Sgt. of the Space Force John F. Bentivegna, featuring an exit interview and conversation with Chief of Space Operations General Chance Saltzman.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qyf1IUMzjyY
SpaceX stacks massive Starship rocket ahead of 1st orbital launch attempt
September 24, 2026
SpaceX has completed assembly of the Starship rocket slated to launch the test vehicle’s most ambitious mission to date.
Flight 14, the 14th full-stack launch of Starship’s test campaign, is slated to lift off during a 75-minute window that opens at 8:15 a.m. EDT (1215 GMT) on Sept. 28.
The Super Heavy first stage for Flight 14, Booster 21, was transported to Starbase’s Pad 2 earlier this week, and its upper-stage Ship (Ship 41) joined its counterpart at the pad overnight on Wednesday (Sept. 23).
The two were stacked before the sun rose on the South Texas launch facility and are undergoing final checkouts before SpaceX performs a key fueling test known as a wet dress rehearsal, which is expected sometime Thursday (Sept. 24).
Flight 14 will be Starship’s first attempt at reaching orbit, and a major milestone for the launch vehicle that has now been in development for 10 years.
If all goes according to plan, Flight 14 will also see the first deployment of SpaceX’s upgraded Starlink Version 3 (V3) high-speed internet satellites.
Starship has carried small batches of V3 Starlinks on previous launches, but those missions’ suborbital trajectories meant the satellites burned up in Earth’s atmosphere rather than remaining in orbit.
Ship 41 has been loaded with 26 Starlink V3s, which, if successfully deployed, will be the very first in a constellation that SpaceX CEO Elon Musk hopes to grow to more than 100,000.
The larger, more powerful Starlink V3s will eventually completely replace the existing Starlink network and, according to Musk, will occupy low Earth orbit (LEO) alongside an even larger network of more than 1 million AI data center satellites, if SpaceX gets regulatory approval.
Deploying these first V3 Starlinks will depend on Starship reaching orbit, a feat the rocket has yet to attempt. Starship’s first 13 flights all flew suborbital trajectories by design, as SpaceX fine-tuned the launch vehicle’s design.
Like the Starlink satellites it’s carrying, Starship is also in its V3 design iteration. SpaceX is confident that the V3 Starship can carry out the elementary components of its immediate missions ahead: chiefly, reaching orbit, deploying its payload and returning safely to Earth.
Much beyond that requires clearing a few technological hurdles SpaceX has yet to tackle, such as orbital refueling and storing cryogenic propellants in space.
For Starship to deliver payloads beyond LEO will require supplemental Starship “tanker” launches to replenish a primary Ship’s propellant. And SpaceX will need to overcome those obstacles to Starship’s full operational status soon.
In addition to SpaceX’s own eagerness to begin launching the Starlink V3 megaconstellation, NASA has also contracted the vehicle as a lunar lander for the Artemis program.
NASA is expecting an orbital spacecraft capable of docking with the agency’s Orion spacecraft in time for Artemis III in mid-2027, and a crew-certified vehicle to land astronauts on the moon on Artemis IV, in 2028.
If everything goes smoothly during Thursday’s wet dress rehearsal, SpaceX will be free to proceed toward Flight 14’s Sept. 28 launch target, pending regulatory approval from the Federal Aviation Administration .
Unlike previous suborbital flights that have lasted only about an hour, Flight 14’s orbital jaunt is expected to last about 10 hours from liftoff to splashdown of Ship 41 in the Pacific Ocean.
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/spacex-stacks-massive-starship-rocket-ahead-of-1st-orbital-launch-attempt-video
https://x.com/SpaceX/status/2102899767403851945
https://x.com/SpaceX/status/2102781027085320290
https://x.com/SpaceX/status/2102820322915353038
https://x.com/SpaceX/status/2102524630019768625
https://www.esa.int/Space_Safety/Clean_Space/Unlocking_the_commercial_potential_of_in-orbit_servicing
moar ESA
https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Business_with_ESA/Record_participation_in_ESA_s_Industry_Space_Days_2026
https://www.thalesaleniaspace.com/en/news/chime-copernicus-hyperspectral-mission-enabling-operational-global-imaging-spectroscopy
https://x.com/esa/status/2103004000693944679
https://x.com/Soph_astro/status/2103148850332487818
Unlocking the commercial potential of in-orbit servicing
23/09/2026
As Europe works towards a more sustainable future in orbit, in-orbit servicing is becoming an important tool for extending the lifetime of satellites and supporting a circular economy in space.
Through initiatives such as the Investor Forum and commercially driven missions like RISE, ESA is bringing together industry, investors and public institutions to help turn these technologies into viable commercial services and strengthen Europe’s leadership in space sustainability.
Satellite operators need effective ways for managing spacecraft during their operational period and at the end of their mission.
In-orbit servicing can help operators extend the lifetime of satellites, enabling the generation of more value from existing assets over a longer period of time.
These services can also support the safe removal of defunct spacecraft that could otherwise add to the growing debris population.
ESA Space Safety and ESA Space Transportation are helping develop the technologies and operational expertise needed to approach, inspect, maintain and remove spacecraft in orbit, a set of capabilities that are central to a safer and more sustainable space environment.
In the long run, ESA aspires to stimulate a true circular economy in space, minimising the impact of spaceflight on Earth and its resources where possible.
These capabilities open the door to a new generation of commercial in-orbit services.
Turning them into reality, however, demands long-term investment and confidence in emerging markets, making the path to commercial success both promising and challenging.
From capabilities to commercial opportunities
What better opportunity to put investing in in-orbit servicing centre stage than the Investor Forum 2026?
Held in Paris on 18 September, the forum was organised by ESA with the support of the European Commission (DG-DEFIS) and the EU Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA).
The event brought together investors, project finance specialists and senior representatives from European institutions and Member States to discuss financing mechanisms and strengthen collaboration through public-private partnerships.
Among the various themes covered during the forum, in-orbit servicing was featured in a session introduced by Holger Krag, ESA Space Safety Programme Manager, and moderated by Quentin Verspieren, Head of the ESA Space Safety Programme Coordination Office.
“In-orbit servicing is one of the building blocks of a sustainable future in space, but no market develops on technology alone. Investors, industry and public institutions all have a role to play.
ESA can help bring these entities together and provide the technical expertise and operational experience needed to reduce uncertainty, build confidence and support the transition from demonstration missions to operational services,” Holger Krag commented.
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With representatives from OTB Ventures, D-Orbit, Astroscale, Exotrail and the European Commission, this session explored how emerging in-orbit servicing programmes can attract investment.
Discussions focused on business models and concrete use cases, the mix of public and private financing needed to support these missions, and measures required to reduce risk and encourage greater participation from the private sector.
The panel covered the European Commission’s ISOS (In-Space Operations and Services) initiative and its role in supporting the growth of European leaders in the field.
Earlier in September, ESA and the European Commission celebrated a joint declaration on the cooperation for the development and maturation of key ISOS technologies and mission concepts, during the International Space Summit in Paris.
Industry representatives shared their perspectives on the markets they are targeting, as well as the services they are developing and the business models underpinning their growth, emphasising the financing mechanisms required to help businesses scale.
The conversation moved on to the role of different types of investors, from venture capital to institutions, alongside European funding instruments that could support the development of in-orbit servicing capabilities in the coming years.
Turning in-orbit servicing into reality
As ESA’s first in-orbit servicing mission, RISE will mark an important step on the road towards sustainability in space.
Developed by D-Orbit, RISE is a commercial in-orbit servicing mission that will demonstrate life-extension services through a safe rendezvous and docking to a geostationary client satellite.
This mission is designed as a bridge to an operational market, paving the way for commercial in-orbit servicing missions in the years ahead.
Organised by D-Orbit and held during World Space Business Week in Paris (14-17 September), the RISE Customer Workshop gathered senior executives from 20 world-leading satellite operators, primarily in geostationary orbit, to showcase European capabilities and explore how RISE life-extension services can respond to the evolving needs of the space sector.
During the event, ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher reflected on the growing momentum behind in-orbit servicing:
“This is no longer a distant ambition. A clear market for in-orbit servicing is emerging, driven by the need for more sustainable and efficient space activities.
RISE demonstrates how ESA can support commercial companies in bringing innovative in-orbit servicing solutions to market faster and with greater confidence.”
ESA is supporting the transition from demonstration to operation by providing technical expertise and ensuring mission safety.
The RISE mission, co-funded by D-Orbit, represents a strategic investment in European industrial capabilities, helping build a credible in-orbit servicing market and strengthening Europe’s autonomy and competitiveness in space.
A new chapter for space sustainability
From active debris removal and satellite life extension to the development of new commercial services, in-orbit servicing will transform how we use and manage space.
Through initiatives such as the Investor Forum and the RISE mission, ESA brings together the partners, investment and expertise needed to help this emerging sector mature, supporting a safer, more sustainable and economically vibrant future in orbit.
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Kiev deliberately destabilizing global energy markets, Lavrov tells Rubio
24 Sep, 2026 00:40
The top diplomats have discussed the Ukraine conflict and US-Russia relations on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York
Ukraine’s deliberate attacks on energy and cross-border infrastructure are destabilizing global markets, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has told US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Lavrov and Rubio met on Wednesday on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly in New York, where they held an extensive discussion on Ukraine, bilateral relations, and a range of international issues.
According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, Lavrov drew Rubio’s attention to what it described as close coordination between Kiev and its European backers and raised Ukrainian strikes on civilians and “cross-border infrastructure facilities,” which Russia said are deliberately contributing to instability in global energy markets.
The issue has increasingly drawn attention in Washington as diesel prices have surged to record highs, topping $6.50 a gallon nationally in September 2026.
US President Donald Trump recently urged Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky to stop striking Russian refineries, saying the attacks were creating a global shortage and “hurting the world.”
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent similarly said earlier this month that Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy assets and refined products were contributing to an “energy shock.”
The US State Department’s brief readout from the Lavrov-Rubio meeting on Wednesday said only that the two diplomats had discussed the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the US-Russia relationship.
Following the meeting, Rubio said both Russia and Ukraine had expressed some interest in a limited ceasefire covering energy targets.
He acknowledged, however, that such an arrangement “doesn’t solve the war,” and said reaching one would be difficult because both sides regard energy infrastructure as a strategic target.
Moscow has repeatedly rejected the idea that any limited truce can substitute for a comprehensive settlement, pointing to what it describes as Ukraine’s past violations of ceasefires and arguing that Kiev seeks talks only when the situation on the battlefield becomes critical.
Zelensky said this week that Kiev was prepared to stop targeting Russian refineries if Moscow halted strikes on a wide range of Ukraine’s energy, logistics, and port infrastructure.
Lavrov reiterated on Wednesday that Russia would not halt its military operation merely to facilitate negotiations, arguing that such a pause would give Kiev and its European sponsors time to replenish depleted weapons stocks.
Zelensky has meanwhile continued to push for the “full and swift implementation” of the recently enacted sanctions package championed by the late US Senator Lindsey Graham.
The law gives Trump authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian oil and gas, potentially targeting countries such as China and India.
With global supplies already strained, sharply curbing Russian exports could further disrupt energy trade and drive prices higher as major importers are forced to compete for alternative barrels.
The Russian side reiterated during the Rubio talks that it remains prepared to pursue a political and diplomatic settlement, but only one that addresses the “root causes” of the conflict.
Russian officials have repeatedly identified NATO’s expansion toward Russia and Kiev’s policies toward Russian speakers among those issues.
Lavrov also called for further normalization of US-Russia relations, including resolving disputes over diplomatic missions and Russian diplomatic property in the US.
In another sign of continued engagement, Rubio announced after the talks that Washington had invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend the G20 summit in Miami in December.
The Kremlin welcomed the invitation and said it would consider it through diplomatic channels.
https://www.rt.com/news/646164-lavrov-rubio-kiev-energy-infrastructure/
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