This was initially intended as a pilot film for a TV series to be called "Ring Around the Moon." When science-fiction movies suddenly became popular, producer Jack Seaman added enough footage to the film to bring it up to feature length. This was done without the knowledge of writer Robert A. Heinlein, and he disowned the result.
Shot in ten days.
This movie and Cat-Women of the Moon (1953) were made using some of the same sets and costumes. Both use spacesuits from Destination Moon (1950), but Project Moon Base had new helmets made instead. The two films were then released within one day of each other, September 3 and 4.
The film was riffed by Joel and the Bots on season 2 episode 9 of Mystery Science Theater 3000.
The film takes place in 1970.