Googling, it appears that the 2008 team got its name from a time-lost Vance Astro. (/A/ Vance Astro or /the/ Vance Astro? don't know.) So there's at least a tenuous connection to the 1969 team.

Tangent: there's an online push to collect more money for the care of Bill Mantlo, who created Rocket Raccoon in 1976 and then suffered permanent brain damage in an accident in 1992. Details, and how to donate, here:

http://www.geeksofdoom.com/2014/02/20/help-guardian-galaxys-rocket-raccoon-creator-bill-mantlo-hero-need

And if you want more details of what happened to him, here's the story (warning: not happy):

http://www.lifehealthpro.com/2011/11/07/tragic-tale


Doug M.