The 20th Century explosion of space exploration was not only driven by academic curiosity but by the rapid development of military technology.
Towards the end of World War Two, Germany had successfully launched the world’s first long-range missile – the V-2 rocket. Such was the weapon’s potency that 9,000 people were killed in attacks on London, Antwerp and Liege. After Germany conceded defeat its remaining rockets were seized by the US, the USSR and Britain. Ralph Smith from the British Interplanetary Society proposed adapting the V-2 to carry humans into space, but the government rejected his plans due to limited post-war funds.