Fifty years ago, the great John Glenn orbited the moon and America was on its way in the Space Race. Behind the scenes, things were murkier, as erstwhile Nazi Wernher von Braun was leading the program. The scientist collaborated with Walt Disney on the 1955 short film, “Man in Space.”

See also:

• Norman Mailer profiles Von Braun. (1969)

• A Time report about the genius whose awful past was lost in space. (2002)