Spanish photographer Cristina De Middel's fictional documentation of a failed 1960s space programme in Zambia - The Afronauts - has just been nominated for the 2013 Deutsche Borse photography prize.

De Middle is one of one of four shortlisted artists. "As a photojournalist I have always been attracted by the eccentric lines of storytelling, avoiding the same old subjects told in the same old ways." says De Middel.

"Afronauts is based on the documentation of an impossible dream that only lives in the pictures."

De Middel was inspired by a piece of archive footage documenting the Zambia National Academy of Science, Space Research and Philosophy, Zambia's first (unofficial) space programme.

The programme was the brainchild of school teacher Edward Makuka Nkoloso who dreamed of beating Russia and the USA in the space race by launching a successful manned mission.

Sadly the programme failed due to lack funds from Unesco and the fact that a female astronaut became pregnant and had to quit.

De Middel's photos are both quirky and thought provoking. "The images are beautiful and the story is pleasant at a first level, but it is built on the fact that nobody believes that Africa will ever reach the moon. It hides a very subtle critique to our position towards the whole continent and our prejudices.” says De Middel.

The project took a year to complete, as the photographer worked on other assignments in between shoots.

Most of the pictures were taken in Spain, in Alicante, Madrid and Mallorca with others taken during an assignment for the Spanish Red Cross in Palestine and some in Italy and the USA. Not a single picture was made in Zambia.