Despite the humor, there's careful attention to the detail of a space launch and what follows (including re-entry burn). The US was just 7 years away from a manned moon landing when this short was released. The Cosmonaut canine (a cameo by Spike) was a nod to the USSR's launch of the dog Laika into space in 1957.
This was the only Gene Deitch era Tom and Jerry cartoon in where Spike makes an appearance (a brief one) as a dog in a Soviet space capsule.
A similar phrase, "There are no cats in America!" was used in the 1986 animated film "An American Tail."
The home furnishings are perfectly rendered mid century designs.
The badge Jerry wears after the flight is a nod to the astronaut wings given to those who have been to space.