The first Space Shuttle mission launched on April 12, 1981. This episode aired March 26, 1981.
Dietrich tells Mr. Corbett about the Heat Shield Tiles. They were considered one of the most dangerous parts going into the early missions. On February 1, 2003 Space Shuttle Columbia would disintegrate on re-entry because of lost and damage heat shield tiles. All 7 Crew Members were lost.
A Martinez, also played a thug with a different character name in another episode entitled : The DNA Story (1979).
The plot about the Space Shuttle fraud involves two names well known to fans of juvenile science fiction. Mr. Corbett parodies the TV show, "Tom Corbett, Space Cadet", based on the novel "Space Cadet" (1948) by Robert A. Heinlein. Mr. Swift parodies the Tom Swift boys' science fiction book series created by Edward Stratemeyer.
The antique doll named Victoria wears an Austrian wedding dress. Levitt refers to her as "Miss Vicki." That was the moniker of Tiny Tim's bride, whom the campy Greenwich Village singer married on "The Tonight Show" in 1969.