Production began with two weeks of filming in 1991. The filmmakers and cast reunited 25 years later to complete the story.
The "NASA stock footage" that opens the film was shot on a home-built animation stand built by visual effects supervisor Kurt Zendler in his living room.
Neither computer-generated effects nor lookalikes were used in the flashback sequences.
The ¾ scale Apollo command module used on location during the 1991 shoot also doubled as the on-site bathroom. Because the capsule was always photographed at some distance from the camera, and because only one side needed to be complete, the unfinished, open side was positioned to face away from the primary location and a camp toilet was placed inside.
The story concept of Russian involvement in the central mystery came entirely from actor Joe Santaniello. While preparing for his interview, Santaniello concluded that astronaut Bo Cunningham could only have effected his plan with significant help from Russian agents. After telling his theory to directors David Dodson and Mark Dodson, he and the filmmakers developed the idea as central to the story.