Colorado spacecraft a hoax

Sunday, the New York Times reported the decision of a Colorado father to release a spaceship-like helium balloon into the air and notify the authorities that his son was aboard was made two weeks before the event actuated.

“These people wanted to get some national attention, with the ultimate hope that they would end up with some form of a TV deal,” said the Larimer County undersheriff, Ernie Hudson, the Times reported.

Search warrants have been carried out on the house of Richard Heene, the boy's father, and authorities plan to press charges that include, "three felonies: conspiracy to commit a crime, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and attempt to influence a public servant. The last carries a possible prison term of six years. The charges could also include a misdemeanor, filing a false report."

The Minneapolis Star Tribune also published the story. The associated press story reported speculation about the hoax theory arose immediately after the boy was discovered hiding in the rafters of the family's garage.

The 6-year-old boy, Falcon, reportedly spoke on television about the family "doing this for a show," and subsequently got sick on two television interviews thereafter.

It has been reported that his father had pitched a reality television show to TLC, and been turned down.

According to the New York times, the parents met while enrolled at an acting school in Los Angeles. Mr. Heene had long held dual interests in scientific tinkering and television: in 2001 he produced an instructional video about turning cardboard boxes into forts for children.