The people working on the space program live and work in Star City, a heavily guarded encampment meant to keep a tight grip on their space program and the details away from spies – especially Americans.

Anna Maxwell Martin plays Lyudmilla, a no-nonsense military woman who is ruthless and dedicated to the Soviet Union. Agnes O’Casey is Irina, tasked as one of many to listen to the private lives of those inside the space program.

Secret microphones inside the apartments of the cosmonauts have been installed, and a dedicated team is hired to listen to the tapes and inform Lyudmilla of any suspicious conversations. The tapes pick up everything inside, including the activities in the bedrooms. Although committed to the program, Irina has a soft spot which leads her into precarious situations.

Rhys Ifans stars as the Chief Designer of the rocket systems. He is also dedicated to his country. Instead of just reaching the moon, however, he secretly plans to launch a rocket to Venus. His unsanctioned and secret program within the program involves many who, if caught, would be charged with treason.

Cosmnauts Sasha (Solly McLeod), Sergei (Josef Davies), Valya (Adam Nagaitis), and Anastasia (Alice Englert) play notable roles in this freshman season. Anastasia is the first female cosmonaut to land on the moon, and heralded as a hero in the country. Upon her return, she is paraded around and kept on a tight leash. Her accomplishment raises the status of the Soviet Union, and the powers that be will not jeopardize her safety and possible defection to America.

This show piggybacks on the original series, “For All Mankind,” with some of the same characters although not the same actors. Where the first series focused on the Americans and their determination to catch up to the Russians and surpass them in space, this series looks at the convictions and dark side of the Soviet space program. People are killed, lives are strictly monitored, and the Soviet Union is the ultimate boss keeping their superiority above everyone else their main goal.

Viewers see a dark and bleak existence behind the Iron Curtain in this fictional alt-history look at what might have been if the Soviets had won the initial space race.

There are eight episodes in this first season of “Star City.” Although it is set in the same timeline as the first series, it is not necessary for viewers to have seen the initial series to understand exactly what is going on. This new show delves into the story strictly from behind the Iron Curtain.

The first two episode of “Star City” dropped May 29 with additional episodes rolling out weekly through July 10. This show, as well as all seasons of “For All Mankind,” are available to stream on Apple TV.