The title of this episode is a reference to the 1950 Science-fiction short story "The Martian Chronicles".
In the midst of the episode , Homer references the episode "Deep Space Homer", since a scientist refers to him, as a "previous" astronaut.
There is a Mercury Seven poster in Lisa's bedroom.
Marge mentions that she went to a Loverboy concert alone in the rain.
In the back of Barry and Paul's VW Beetle, there's a sticker with The Best Show with Tom Scharpling's logo, the show hosted by both guest stars.
The characters of Paul and Barry being named such is likely a reference to the British children's TV comedians the Chuckle Brothers, who found fame with their 80s, 90s and 00s show ChuckleVision.
Trivia[]
This is the second canon episode where a Simpson chooses to go into space. The first was "Deep Space Homer". Although in Deep Space Homer, Homer actually goes into space in that episode, in this one no one actually goes into space.
Homer had suggested the Simpsons travel to Mars previously in "Sweets and Sour Marge".
If you search the two websites shown when the scientists show the funders, they will lead to Fox.com, with a single picture of that company.
This was the first episode that Lisa was grounded.
Goofs[]
When Barry was explaining that they have teamed up with "some of America's most exciting brands", his right pocket briefly disappears.
Maggie wearing her regular clothes, but not a mission suit
Maggie is not wearing a mission suit in the scene.
When Homer and Bart are playing catch, Homer was holding the ball, but when the camera focus on Bart, he is the one holding it, even though Homer has not thrown the ball to him yet.
