Normal
They can benefit from those lies. If they claim to have done things in space, that is more money they can filter through the system and claim it is for "space projects". In terms of aliens, you have seen the movies and stories. Could easily be doing their bidding and are being promised a safe zone for when the aliens "cleanse the earth". The earth being flat and them lying about it being round doesn't really strike me as anything they could gain from. Unless I am overlooking something.
