Donald Duck's uncle was partly based on Wernher von Braun

On September 24, 1961, the first character Walt Disney created specifically for television made his debut. This character, Ludwig Von Drake, was an uncle to Donald Duck and a renowned scientist, lecturer, psychologist, and world traveler. Von Drake was described by Disney as the "outstanding genius of the century" who helped explain scientific principles and technological concepts to millions of viewers tuning in to watch "Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color" on NBC every Sunday.

After addressing topics like color television, the health benefits of exercise, and aviation, Von Drake dove into his area of expertise in the February 10, 1963, episode "Inside Outer Space." The article highlights how Von Drake, a character inspired in part by early Space Age rocket scientists, played a significant role in making scientific concepts accessible to a wide audience.