Re: Dan Dare
Back in t'day when I wor a young researcher (and dinosaurs roamed the Earth)
There was a French European plan to launch a couple of French European astronauts in a Apollo capsule with wings SpacePlane on top of a French European rocket to demonstrate the superiority of French European technology.
Suspicious that this was a French plot to engrandise France the Brits not only vetoed the program but introduced a law banning British involvement in any ESA manned mission
Among the UK scientists the mission, officially Hermes, was known as "Frogs in Spaaaaaaace"