The main set - built in a classroom at the University of Missouri, Kansas City - was made from old television control equipment and Christmas tree lights. The set featured in Holly Daniels' (Chanel Jones) tour is the engineering control room at a local Kansas City radio station.
The story was inspired by true stories from a US Navy veteran who served during WWII in the South Pacific. Director Jason Hunt and his wife, Toi, were tasked with transcribing his hard-copy memoir into an electronic copy. There was a noticeable difference in the correspondence to friends and family, and the descriptions of events during his ship assignments. Likely, this was due to the security restrictions applied to any correspondence.
The designation DSPF stands for Deep Space Patrol Frigate; the USNS James Gregory is named for the director's son; DSPF-12302 is derived from his birthday.
The Martine (Shannon Knopke) character was originally named Martinez, but no Hispanic actors were available; the name was changed to have a French origin.
The engine rumble foundation sound is a recording of the director's cat, Beethoven, purring. The PA announcements are the director and wife on a speaker phone