The date the shooting supposedly took place, [Sunday] April 12, 1981, was the 20th anniversary of the flight of Yuri Gagarin. It is also the date of the first launch of the Space Shuttle (Columbia, or STS-1), a little over 10 years after the time this aired.
Research and experience have shown that while exposure to a vacuum causes swelling, human skin is tough enough to withstand the drop of one atmosphere. The most serious risk from vacuum exposure is hypoxia, in which the body is starved of oxygen that leads to unconsciousness within a few seconds.
Deleted scenes: an after-dinner scene in Tina's apartment where she and Foster discuss their future together; Alec Freeman breaking the news of Foster's "death" to Tina.
This episode was originally filmed before "Exposed", which introduces Col. Paul Foster.