The next episode of “For All Mankind” shows the wonderful reaction of astronaut Tracy Stevens when she finally gets to start another mission — and the technical problem that holds her up.
As shown in a preview clip of the midseason episode that airs Friday (March 19), Stevens gently jumps down the lunar module ladder and takes a good look at Jamestown, the fictional NASA moon base. Rolling hills of lunar regolith decorate the view. “This is beautiful,” Stevens says in awe.
Her reverie is interrupted by another astronaut, holding a video camera to record the historic moment. “I don’t think it was recording,” her crewmate laments.
Related: Astronaut-led video tour reveals details in ‘For All Mankind’ moon base
From astro-wife to LSAM pilot, Tracy Stevens can handle nearly anything. Will she be able to navigate life on the moon? Find out in the new episode of #ForAllMankind, now on the @AppleTV app with an Apple TV+ subscription. pic.twitter.com/BHnmdzyVnqMarch 19, 2021
Stevens snaps off her public relations face, rapidly. “Really?” she says in mild exasperation.
“Sorry, it’s these gloves. We’re going to have to do it again” her crewmate says. Trying to fill the awkward silence, he jabbers on. “That was great, though. Do it [again] just like that.”
We don’t get to see how Stevens reacts next, but you can catch the alternate timeline episode on Apple TV. Without getting too far into spoiler territory, Season 2 has been covering the fictional 1980s space program as NASA and the Soviet Union continue to compete in space.
For NASA, that competition in the show clearly includes continuing human moon exploration — something that the real-life agency stopped doing in 1972.
That said, the real NASA is hoping to put boots on the moon soon with the Artemis program — although when that is going to happen is in suspense as President Joe Biden’s new administration has not committed to former President Donald Trump’s timeline of a human landing in 2024.
“For All Mankind” Season 1 and the first half of Season 2 are available on the streaming platform Apple TV+, which requires a subscription of $4.99/month. We also have a spoiler-free discussion of what to expect in Season 2, with a look at how it compares to real-life space shuttle history of the 1980s, courtesy of Space.com partner collectSPACE.
You can get more information (likely with spoilers) about the new episode by listening to “For All Mankind: The Official Podcast,” available now on Apple Podcasts. An augmented reality experience called “For All Mankind: Time Capsule” is also available in the App Store.
Follow Elizabeth Howell on Twitter @howellspace. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.
