Well, it might have worked!

John Wilkins, a British inventor, drew up plans in the 1640s to send a manned wooden 'chariot' to the Moon propelled by gunpowder, feather wings and springs.
Convinced the Moon was inhabited by a race of people called the Selenites, he was determined to visit them to set up trade links.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1200497/How-Briton-launched-space-race-1640s.html#ixzz0LnPhtaLR