Walt Disney, Space, and The Right Stuff

Jeff Kurtti

by , Disney Legacy Author

“In this exciting age when everyone seems to be talking about the future possibilities of space travel, there is much speculation on what we will discover when we visit other worlds.”

—Walt Disney

Disney culture is filled with interesting coincidences, inspirations, and connections—one of the most remarkable and surprising is the influence of Walt Disney himself on the U.S. space program. That stimulus certainly raised public awareness and enthusiasm for space exploration, which in turn helped gain support for the formation of NASA and its Project Mercury, as seen in the new National Geographic scripted series “The Right Stuff,” premiering today on Disney+. But Walt’s impact went even further.

The origins of this association came from Walt’s new venture into television in 1954, and the concurrent development of Disneyland. The realm of “tomorrow” was a part of each, and in both cases, the  futuristic notions and projects lagged behind the familiar subjects. “Walt was all set with animated material for Fantasyland, he had historical Frontierland stuff like Davy Crockett and Pecos Bill, and the True-Life Adventures films…the Disney film archives were filled with these things…but he had nothing for Tomorrowland,” Disney Legend Ward Kimball told E Ticket Magazine in 1996.

Kimball had seen a popular series of Collier’s magazine articles on space that began publication in 1952. “These articles were by the foremost space experts of the time (Willy Ley, Heinz Haber, Werner von Braun and illustrator Chesley Bonestell) and I had been very interested in them,” Kimball said. “Walt came back later and said, ‘This is the way to go…this is not science fiction, this is ‘science factual’…we know these things, so let’s get Von Braun and the others out here!’”

Tomorrowland entrance, Herb Ryman, 1954. A majestic rocket ready to penetrate space was always a part of Walt’s Tomorrowland. © Disney
Tomorrowland entrance, Herb Ryman, 1954. A majestic rocket ready to penetrate space was always a part of Walt’s Tomorrowland. © Disney

The result was a hugely popular and highly influential series of TV hours. Kimball co-wrote, produced, directed, and appeared in: “Man in Space,” airing on March 9, 1955, “Man and the Moon,” airing on December 28, 1955, and “Mars and Beyond,” aired on December 4, 1957. “The general public didn’t grasp the possibility of space travel,” Kimball said. “They had no conception of what was involved…even with three shows we weren’t able to do it as thoroughly as we wanted.”

The series of programs created a cultural phenomenon with the public, and its clear presentation of complex subject matter piqued the interest of another influential viewer. “That’s why [President] Eisenhower, when he happened to see our ‘Man in Space’ program, was absorbed by it,” Kimball said. “He realized that he had generals in the Pentagon who didn’t understand or accept these ideas. At first, the military did not support America’s program for space exploration. He flew them all in, and for two weeks, he screened our program for his top Generals. Walt was very proud when Eisenhower called him about the program, and was so glad to accommodate him. The call came into the Studio, and I guess at first the switchboard didn’t believe it was the President of the United States!”

Kimball realized that Walt Disney had been a key influence in the creation of the U.S. space program. “It was a high point for me,” Kimball said, “because I felt I was participating and being part of the future. I was rubbing elbows with the people who were going to take us to the moon, and to Mars, and beyond to other planets. This was an elixir that one couldn’t deny.”

Mission: SPACE
YOU are the astronaut at the International Space Training Center in Mission: SPACE. © Disney

The connection of Disney and space has remained consistent and strong over the decades. Almost every concept rendering of Tomorrowland at Disneyland contained a majestic rocket ship, and attractions such as Flight to the Moon and its successor, Mission to Mars, were popular at Disneyland and Walt Disney World. The romance and excitement of space created the iconic thrill ride Space Mountain, a staple at most Magic Kingdom-style parks worldwide; and from its very origins, EPCOT certainly had its eye on the future and the technologies created for, and derived from space exploration. Mission: SPACE opened at EPCOT in 2003, simulating astronaut training experiences on two different space missions, the thrilling and intense “Orange Mission” and the gentler and more family-friendly “Green Mission.” 

A Mercury Seven reunion at Disneyland in 1977. © Disney
A Mercury Seven reunion at the opening of Space Mountain at Disneyland Park. ©1977 Disney

One of the most interesting moments in the confluence of Disney and the U.S. space program was the appearance of original Mercury Seven astronauts (subjects of the National Geographic series “The Right Stuff” on Disney+), Scott Carpenter and Gordon Cooper, along with Apollo 15 astronaut Jim Irwin, at the opening of Space Mountain at Walt Disney World in 1975. An even larger reunion of the Mercury Seven—Carpenter, Cooper, John Glenn, Wally Schirra, Alan Shepard, Donald “Deke” Slayton, and Betty Grissom (widow of Virgil I. “Gus” Grissom)—took place two years later at the Disneyland Space Mountain opening.

One wonders if they were told, or were aware of, the fact that they were not just celebrating “space” at these events, but by extension, celebrating the influential showman whose vision and work had played a nascent part in their careers and fame. Their intertwined histories created, as “The Right Stuff” celebrates, “an aspirational story about how ordinary human beings can achieve the extraordinary.”

The Race to be First in Space - National Geographic. - The Right Stuff - Disney+

Today, Disney+ will premiere “The Right Stuff,” National Geographic’s new scripted series based on the iconic bestseller by Tom Wolfe. Produced by Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way and Warner Bros. Television, “The Right Stuff” is an inspirational look at the early days of the U.S. space program, and the incredible story of America’s first astronauts, the Mercury Seven. Walt Disney’s original 1950s Disneyland series TV shows “Man in Space” and “Mars and Beyond” are also available on Disney+.

Comments

  • What an interesting read—I had no idea how the space program was so heavily inspired and influenced by Walt Disney’s own passion for the subject matter.

    I love pieces of writing like this that offer deeper insights and stories than one may expect. Even though I THINK I know a lot about all things Disney, it was fun to learn something new. Keep these coming, Jeff Kurtti!

  • It’s so interesting to read about Walt’s historical connections and the impact he had on space exploration. I always love learning more about the history of Walt and the Disney company. Thank you for sharing with all of us, Jeff Kurtti. I can’t wait to read your next contribution!

  • Any chance of Disney+ showing those 50’s programs, if they still exist? I would love to watch them.

  • Glad to see Jeff back and these informative and historical articles. More like this please, and I can’t wait to watch The Right Stuff on D+!!!!

  • About to watch the new episode! I love that Walt Disney was such a fan of space exploration. It is truly fascinating what the folks at NASA have accomplished so I can understand his interest. This article is fantastic and I can’t wait to see what Jeff Kurtti writes about next!

  • I love Jeff Kurtti’s writing because I always learn so much about Disney history. Great to see him back on the blog. This was such a cool article!

  • So great seeing you back on Disney Parks Blog, Jeff. Thank you for the awesome read.

    I look forward to more from you!

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