Initial media coverage often focused on his technical achievements, downplaying or minimizing his involvement with the Nazi regime. This portrayal contributed to a somewhat sanitized image of von Braun as a purely apolitical scientist.

Later documentaries and biographies explored the complexities of his life, acknowledging his contributions to space exploration while also examining his moral compromises and the ethical dilemmas he faced. These portrayals offered a more nuanced and critical perspective.

Von Braun has been portrayed in several films and television shows, often as a brilliant but morally ambiguous figure. These fictionalized accounts sometimes emphasize the tension between his scientific ambitions and his political context. He appeared on Disney television programs that popularized space travel to the American public.

His portrayal continues to be debated and re-evaluated, reflecting ongoing discussions about the ethics of scientific advancement, the legacies of Nazi scientists, and the complexities of historical interpretation.