A recurring musical element is the theme song to the film The Great Escape (1963). This is appropriate, as the story is about a group of desperate men trying to achieve something extremely difficult and risky but hugely rewarding. In the film years of repeated failures and refinements are followed by great success. Another aspect is in regard to the "cooler King" prisoner of war character played by Steve McQueen, who, between escape attempts, spends extended periods of time in the cooler (solitary confinement) during which he spends his time tossing a baseball against the wall of his cell and catching it. This is what Grumman exec Tom Kelly ( Matt Craven )does.
One of the musical themes is an instrumental version of the Mancini song It Had Better Be Tonight, which was sung by Fran Jeffries in the film The Pink Panther (1963). In the film, each botched attempt to assassinate Clouseau is associated with this musical theme. In this episode the theme is heard with each time a LEM design is discarded.
The Lunar Excursion Module seen in scenes set at the Cape was originally built for the canceled Apollo 18 mission. It appears as various LMs on the Moon throughout the series as well.
The repeated banging sound when the LEM docks with the CM is a ram of sorts that pulls the LEM snugly into the CM for a tight seal.