The story is based on the 1951 science fiction novel "The Astronauts" by Stanisław Lem. Lem was approached by Kurt Maezig from DEFA with an idea to make a film adaptation of Lem's novel, possibly because Lem was widely known in Poland and abroad at the time. "The Astronauts" was likely chosen due to the recent advancements in rocket technology and the popularity of space travel in science fiction. The story also expressed many socialist ideals, appropriate for the state-owned DEFA.