The "tall building" that Stupor Duck leaps in "a single bound" is labeled "McKimson and Assoc.," in reference to the short's director, Bob McKimson.
Cluck Trent = Clark Kent. And the Managing Editor bears a passing resemblance to Robert McKimson.
The launch of Sputnik 1 was still over a year away when this short was released, but the concept of space exploration was in full swing, with rockets commonly appearing in most media.
The witch costume Stupor Duck mistakenly dons is a nod to Witch Hazel from "Broom-Stick Bunny," which was released earlier the same year.
Mel Blanc's fellow voice artist, Daws Butler, provides the narration as well as voicing the newspaper editor.