The primary proposal for space in English history was created by Cromwell’s in-law(windowtopast)

Theologian and natural thinker John Wilkins (1614–72), married Cromwell’s youngest sister Robina,
was a polymath of learning and curiosity, and would be one amongst the founders of the Royal society. In his two books he explored the possibility of “flying chariots” to hold men to the moon.
He believed, as did several others, that the moon and planets were inhabited, and that we should meet these people and trade with them. people were anchored to the planet by a sort of magnetism, associated if it were attainable to achieve an altitude of simply 20 miles, travellers would be able to fly, or rather sail, through space. Respiration wouldn’t be a retardant because the astronauts would before long grow aware of the purer air breathed by angels. Wilkins seems to possess experimented in building flying machines with Robert Hooke, within the gardens of Wadham college, Oxford, within the 1650s. Some years later, however, with growing understanding of the character of vacuums, he understood space travel was much more difficult than expected.  While his statesman connections reduced him to economic condition once the come back of the autarchy, Wilkins’s fortunes were bit by bit renovated and he terminated his life as Bishop of chester.