Ide bahwa bangsa Maya menguasai teknologi roket dipopulerkan oleh Eric von Daniken lewat bukunya Chariots of the Gods. Menurut von Daniken, posisi Raja Pakal dalam ukiran mirip posisi astronot yang terbang keluar angkasa dalam proyek Mercury. Masih menurut klaimnya, si raja duduk di kursi yang kompleks, memakai masker oksigen di hidung, kedua tangannya mengatur panel kontrol di depannya, sedang kaki kiri menekan semacam pedal. Ditambah semburan api roket dari bagian belakang/bawah.
In the center of that frame is a man sitting, bending forward. He has a mask on his nose, he uses his two hands to manipulate some controls, and the heel of his left foot is on a kind of pedal with different adjustments. The rear portion is separated from him; he is sitting on a complicated chair, and outside of this whole frame, you see a little flame like an exhaust.Benarkah demikian?
