Star City reimagines the Soviet space race with women at the forefront
A new spin-off from For All Mankind has landed, taking viewers into the heart of the Soviet space race. Star City follows the cosmonauts and officials at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, where ambition and secrecy collide. The series imagines an alternate history where the Russians reached the moon first—and women played a key role in the mission. The story unfolds in a world where the Soviet Union has outpaced the US in space exploration. Cosmonauts, including the inexperienced Anastasia Belikova, face high-stakes challenges during lunar missions while resisting attempts to control them. Belikova’s struggles with technical failures and autonomy form a central plotline.
The training centre, known as Star City, operates under tight state surveillance. Conversations are recorded, and every move is monitored, reflecting the era’s political climate. Colonel Raskova, played by Anna Maxwell Martin, enforces discipline as the programme’s stern overseer. Beyond the missions, the series explores the personal toll of fame. Valya Mironov, another cosmonaut, grapples with the pressure of being used as a propaganda tool. The show’s production design reinforces its Cold War setting, with stark Soviet housing blocks and brutalist offices adding to the atmosphere. *Star City* was created by Ben Nedivi, Matt Wolpert, and Ronald D. Moore, the team behind *For All Mankind*. The first season is now airing, with plans for a sixth and final instalment in 2027.
The series blends historical tension with fictional twists, offering a fresh take on the space race. Its focus on women cosmonauts and state-controlled operations sets it apart from traditional space dramas. With its first season underway, Star City is poised to expand the For All Mankind universe further.
