Man in Space - Television show, which aired on March 9, 1955. "Man in Space" was the first of a number of Disney television shows on space exploration. It was directed by animator Ward Kimball and employed the consulting talents of space scientists Wily Ley, Heinz Haber and Wernher von Braun. According to Disney archivist Dave Smith, President Eisenhower requested a print of the TV show to be shown the brass at the Pentagon, which gave a clear boost to the U.S. space program.