For All Mankind (2019 — 2024)

For All Mankind (2019–2024), a sci-fi drama on Apple TV+, was created by Ronald D. Moore, Matt Wolpert, and Ben Nedivi. The show’s alternate timeline in 1969 sees Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov as the first human to land on the Moon. This event not only shatters morale at NASA but also spurs the United States to catch up. In response to the Soviet Union’s emphasis on diversity, including a female astronaut in subsequent missions, the U.S. is forced to keep pace by training women and minorities who were previously excluded from space exploration. As the series progresses each season jumps ahead by 10 years: season two in the 1980s, season three in the 1990s, and season four in the 2000s. When discussing how historical events differ from those depicted in the show, Moore points out that Sergei Korolev, often called the father of the Soviet space program, did not die during an operation in Moscow (in 1966) like he did in reality. Instead, his survival allows for their successful Moon landing to occur.

Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov makes history by becoming the first man on the Moon in June 1969. This achievement sparks a sense of urgency at NASA to plan for an American Moon landing. During a night out with friends at a bar, Apollo 10 astronaut Edward Baldwin, under the influence of alcohol, confesses to a reporter that he believes NASA could have done more to ensure an American was the first on the Moon. As a result, he is reassigned from flight duty by NASA director Wernher von Braun when his remarks are made public. A month later, Apollo 11 experiences a rough landing on the Moon and temporarily loses contact with NASA. Fortunately, after four hours, astronauts Armstrong and Aldrin are able to reestablish communication and announce their survival despite their lunar module being in a precarious position. Following this successful mission, Baldwin hopes to be reinstated as an astronaut for Apollo 15, and Gordo’s family celebrates by watching the launch at a party. In contrast, across the border in Mexico, another family illegally crosses into the United States while listening to the launch over a radio.