Astronaut Shuts Down Flat Earth Theory For Good With Epic Live Footage From Space

Watch this astronaut prove that the earth is round with one jaw-dropping camera flip.

Jesse

• Published in News
• August 28, 2024

From the early speculations of the Greek philosopher Pythagoras to the age of space exploration, the concept of a spherical Earth has been established as common knowledge.

Yet, despite all the evidence, the flat Earth theory refuses to die. It's like the bad penny of conspiracy theories—it keeps coming back, no matter how many times it's debunked.

It's surprising that the idea that our planet is a flat disc floating through space has somehow managed to survive into the modern age—a time when we literally have people living in space with a front-row seat to Earth's curvature.

While most of us chuckle and shake our heads at these claims, there’s an astronaut who decided to put the debate to rest in the most straightforward way possible: by showing us the Earth in all its round glory.

In a video that has since gone viral, an astronaut, with the TikTok handle @spacemanedu, waves to the camera from the International Space Station (ISS) before casually flipping it around to reveal a breathtaking view of our round Earth. 

“Someone said Earth was flat," the video’s caption reads. That one statement drips with the kind of understated sarcasm that only someone who’s been to space could pull off. The clip quickly made the rounds on social media, and just like that, the flat Earth theory was blasted out of orbit—we hope.

Scroll down to digest the epic space video made by @spacemanedu...

Someone said the Earth is flat...and this astronaut had the perfect response.

Of course, astronauts aren't the only ones who find flat Earth theories laughable. NASA regularly posts stunning images and videos of Earth from space, showing our planet's beautiful curves and proving, time and again, that it's not a flat plane. Yet, the myth endures, baffling scientists and causing countless facepalms around the globe.

If this view from space doesn't convince you, then nothing will

So, why do some people still believe the Earth is flat? Historically, civilizations lacked the tools and evidence to understand our planet’s shape. But today, we have all the proof we need—so what gives?

Modern flat Earth beliefs can be traced back to the 19th century when Samuel Rowbotham’s zetetic astronomy proposed a flat disc-shaped Earth centered around the North Pole. Though lacking scientific merit, his ideas were propagated by followers like William Carpenter, and somehow, they’ve stuck around. 

Flat-Earthers, over to you

Today, the flat Earth movement often stems not from a genuine belief in the theory but from a deep distrust of scientists and experts.

Astrophysicist Paul M. Sutter argues that the flat Earth belief is less about the shape of the planet and more about a lack of trust in authority. He suggests that when confronted with a flat Earther, it’s more effective to focus on building trust rather than bombarding them with facts.

So, if you find yourself in a conversation with someone who insists the Earth is flat, remember: the real challenge isn’t proving the Earth is round; it’s getting them to trust the people who’ve seen it firsthand.

Jesse