Paul Cogan is the pen name of Claude Appell (1919–1976), a prolific French author of youth literature. A grandson of the mathematician Paul Appell, founder of the Cité universitaire de Paris, he devoted his career to children's publishing and writing. He served as editor-in-chief of Terre des jeunes (1949–1972) and Francs-Jeux (1962–1976), publishing adventure and popular science titles under both his own name and this pseudonym in collections such as Signe de Piste (Alsatia) and the Jean-François Collection (Fleurus). Les Pionniers de l'espace (1959) reflects his keen interest in the early space age.