ɐkˈoːɹdɪŋ tə nˈɑːts nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti ˈeɪt ˌɔːɾoʊbaɪˈɑːɡɹəfi, ðə tɹˈædʒɪk ɐpˈɑːloʊ wˈʌn fˈaɪɚ lˈɛd tə jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsəl pˈɪktʃɚz bˌiːɪŋ skˈɛptɪkəl ɐbˌaʊt ɹᵻlˈiːsɪŋ ɐ kˈɑːmədi ˌɔn spˈeɪs tɹˈævəl sˌoʊ sˈuːn ˈæftɚ ðə tɹˈædʒədi.
According to Knotts' 1998 autobiography, the tragic Apollo 1 fire led to Universal Pictures being skeptical about releasing a comedy on space travel so soon after the tragedy.