space explorer

[Mullins, Bill]

OED has 1959, OED SF project has 1949

THE WEEK IN SCIENCE: AMERICAN ASSOCIATION MEETS
By WALDEMAR KAEMPFFERT.
New York Times; Jan 5, 1936; pg. XX4 col 2.
[reference here is to a device, not a person]
"Dr. Goddard sets up his space explorer in a tower-like, latticed frame
some sixty feet high, looking for all the world like an oil-well
derrick."


"Rocketeers, Beware!" in the "Parade of Youth" supplement to the
Wisconsin | Sheboygan | The Sheboygan Press | 1935-11-13 p 5 col 5.
"This layer of air may be only a few inches thick and again it may be
miles, but perhaps the first adventurous space explorer had better
travel at plenty of speed when he goes through it."