Do you ever wonder what would be different if Neil Armstrong wasn't the first man to step on the moon for the first time? For All Mankind brings us exactly that alternative reality.
Created and written by Ronald D. Moore, Matt Wolpert and Ben Nedivi, the series dramatises what would have happened if the global space race had never ended and the Soviet Union's successful moon landing was ahead of the United States.
The inaugural crewed mission to the moon during the Space Race in the late 1960s was a global success for NASA and the United States.
However, in For All Mankind, a Soviet cosmonaut, Alexei Leonov, becomes the first person to land on the moon. This outcome devalues NASA's morale but serves as a motivation for an American effort to achieve it.
With the Soviet Union highlighting diversity by including women in subsequent landings, the US was forced to follow along, training women and minorities who were largely excluded from the initial decades of US space exploration.
The series shows us an alternate reality but features historical figures, including Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins, as well as NASA administrator Thomas Paine and the presidents Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton.
If you're a space enthusiast and enjoy fictional but somewhat real series, you'll appreciate the nine alternative shows like For All Mankind that we've put together for you.
Follow the factual story of Apollo and all the hardships and victories that surrounded it, or pursue the study of space theories and scientific exploration with all the mysteries of the surrounding universe.
Enter into a future where humanity has already colonised the solar system but is shrouded in a dangerous and destructive conspiracy.
Don't miss our list of shows like For All Mankind and get into an endless space marathon.
If you have any more suggestions for a must-watch series, please share them with us in the comments below.
OUR LIST OF SHOWS LIKE FOR ALL MANKIND
Away
Emma Green commands a small crew on the first manned mission to Mars. Away from home for three years, this is a space mission that will test all those on board as well as those left behind at home. Starts slow but does eventually find its feet.
Another Life
When a space ship lands on Earth, a team of astronauts must fly out to the alien vessel’s origin to see if they are friendly or not. Another Life should have been a solid sci-fi show but is instead filled with cliches and tropes and is just a bit of ...[Read More]
Challenger: The Final Flight
Challenger: The Final Flight is an excellent docu-series that explores the story behind the shocking explosion of the 1986 Challenger rocket that killed all seven astronauts on board. Well worth watching.
Moonfall
In Moonfall, the earth has been knocked off its orbit and is on a collision course with earth. Thankfully a NASA executive has an idea to save the planet. But can they get there on time in this sci-fi action flick?
Lost In Space
'Lost In Space' from Netflix is the reboot of the classic 60s TV show of the same name. While the show's premise remains unchanged from the original series, the updated 'Lost In Space' dazzles the audience with incredible special effects and solid ac...[Read More]
Salyut 7
Salyut-7 is the true story of the Soviet Space station which began to fall to earth in 1985. If you enjoyed movies like Apollo 13, Gravity and The Martian then you'll love this too.
Nightflyers
When George R. R. Martin, sci-fi, space and horror collide you get Nightflyers. Flawed but mostly unsettling enough to entertain and is certainly a visual feast. Think Event Horizon or Alien and you get the direction this series goes in.
The Orville
The Orville is a science fiction series created by Seth Macfarlane, the man behind "Family Guy" and "American Dad." The show is set 400 years in the future and follows the crew of the Orville, a spaceship that is part of the Planetary Union. The show...[Read More]
The Silent Sea
The Silent Sea is a Korean drama that borrows concepts from many sci-fi sources. Nevertheless, it manages to retain a good measure of originality. While the premise of the show is intriguing, at times it lacks tension and intensity. If you enjoy scie...[Read More]
How Many Seasons Does For All Mankind Have?
For All Mankind premiered in November 2019 and was well received by the public, winning over many fans worldwide.
It was renewed for a second season, which aired in February 2021.
The second season was critically acclaimed and nominated for a TCA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Drama.
In December 2020, even before the second season premiered, the series was renewed for a third season, dropping in June 2022.
In July 2022, it was announced that the series would proceed for the fourth season, which still has yet to have an official premiere date but is expected in 2023.
For All Mankind has, for now, a total of three seasons with 30 episodes.
How Accurate Is For All Mankind?
Although it is a fictional series, For All Mankind describes actual events with real characters.
In fact, the alternate future presented in the show is closer to what we actually experience.
While we understand how the space race occurred and why it ended, it is interesting to think how it could have kept going and how one small change would have changed the entire course of human history.
As the show begins during the original space race in the 1960s, the technology For All Mankind is incredibly accurate for the tech of that time.
The details of their mission are surprisingly factual, aside from the crew members. Everything that occurs seems plausible, and these factors allowed the series to gain such success and viewers.
Also, the depiction of space itself is pretty accurate, using modern special effects to represent the vastness of the universe and the complexities of space travel.
For All Mankind was meticulously directed and produced to create the perfect modern space saga, detailing the space program of the 1960s and a time of technological optimism exquisitely.
The series is made for all space enthusiasts and history lovers, creating the perfect combination.
As the show blends history and space in the best way possible, it is accessible to a wide range of different audiences and is a great series to watch.
When Did NASA Land On Mars?
The first successful landing on Mars happened in 1975 when NASA's lander Hermes touched down undamaged on Ares Vallis.
This made it possible to deploy the Sojourner rover, which sent home the first photos of the Martian surface.
Afterwards, more missions with or without a rover were sent to Mars to explore its surface and atmosphere.
By May 2021, there were six successfully robot-operated Mars rovers. The US NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory manages the first five, and China's National Space Administration operates the sixth.
