in 1946 france try to bulid V-2 Rockets, but abandon the Project in 1948 du lack of key V-2 components
http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/superv2.htm
but wat if France had those key V-2 components ?
POD Charles de Gaulle become President of the France 4 Republic in 1946
1948 France launch there version of a V-2
1950 test launch R-1 & R-2 rocket aka Super V-2
1955 test launch R2M (a A-9 rocket with 2 big solid Booster)
to prove the R2M works its launch the first satellite in to Orbit "Le Petit Prince"
this shock the world USA , UK , USSR start on there satellite programs
1956 the USA launch "Explorer One" with Redstone, President Eisenhower talk of Man-In-Space-Soonest
1957 France launch the first men in to space (suborbital flight) on R2R
USSR launch the satellite "Spuntik" in world press only on page 10
1960 UK launch there first satellite "Pospero" with Black Prince rocket
1961 USA first suborbital manned space flight, prepare for Orbital flight in 1962
USSR launch Vostok Yuri Gagarin in Orbit, suborbital hops know look pathetic .
1962 USA launch John Glenn in Orbit
Charles de Gaulle give TV Speech to France
"French ! the time are changing, The progress and succes of our great nation are challenged !!
in nuclear or in spaceflight Technology, is time to challenged those nation to prove our great nation,
la France will go to moon...VIVE LA FRANCE !!!"