The music for the episode seems to be an homage to the music of the Sci-fi classic Them! (1954). The most notable is the flute whistle at the end of the episode.
The beast is found in a similar predicament that Superman villain Doomsday would find himself in after Hank Henshaw (Cyborg Superman) attached him to an asteroid and hurled him into space.
Victor Brandt and Charles Napier both guest stared in the Star Trek episode, The Way to Eden (1969).