The story
In 1969 a Soviet cosmonaut becomes the first human to land on the Moon, and the space race never ends. Stung by defeat, NASA pushes harder and further, opening its astronaut corps to women and minorities far earlier than in reality. Jumping forward in time between seasons, the show follows astronauts, engineers and their families through an alternate history of space exploration.
Why it matters
For All Mankind launched with Apple TV (then Apple TV+) in November 2019 and became one of the service's longest-running dramas, an ambitious alternate history whose writers aimed for about seven seasons spanning at least 70 years. Its universe has since grown to include the Soviet-focused spin-off Star City.
Notable facts
- The idea came from a lunch between Ronald D. Moore and former NASA astronaut Garrett Reisman. (source)
- Its writers said their goal was 'about seven seasons' spanning 'at least 70 years'. (source)
- The companion AR app For All Mankind: Time Capsule won the Emmy for Outstanding Innovation in Interactive Programming. (source)
- The spin-off Star City, about the Soviet space programme, premiered on Apple TV on 29 May 2026. (source)