Warning: Spoilers for For All Mankind season 3, episode 2, "Game Changer."
In the heat of For All Mankind season 3's race to Mars, Kelly Baldwin is poised to play a major role and her involvement is more important than viewers may think. The adopted daughter of renowned former NASA astronaut Ed Baldwin and his ex-wife Karen, Kelly is yet to emerge at the forefront of the Apple TV+ show's plot since her introduction in season 2. Now that Kelly has established her own career in science and astronomy, For All Mankind season 3 indicates her eventual involvement in humanity's endeavors on the Red Planet.
Set in 1992, the start of For All Mankind season 3 lays the groundwork for a riveting competition for the Red Planet. Alongside the established players (NASA and the Soviets) arrives Helios, a private space travel company run by entrepreneur Dev Ayesa. After losing his spot to Danielle Poole as NASA's Mars mission commander, Ed joins Helios after Karen convinces him to take the helm of Dev's flight set to take place in 1994 — two years before NASA's is scheduled. Despite this fact, NASA and the Soviets will likely accelerate their timelines in order to rival Helios.
At the beginning of For All Mankind season 3, Kelly is stationed at a research base in Antarctica. Although distant from the space race at the moment, Kelly had previously joined the Navy and has also undergone astronaut training. Furthermore, Ed attempted to select her as part of his crew for Mars before NASA head Margo Madison informed him of his removal from the mission. While For All Mankind has not yet revealed whether or not Kelly will take part in the first flight to Mars, season 3's early implications for the character are promising.
For All Mankind season 3's all-important reveal surrounding Kelly lies in the fact that she studies the presence of life in water, which will be crucial for Mars exploration and finding life on the planet once human crews land. All three groups of NASA, Helios, and the Soviet Union will aim to sustain their presence on the Red Planet by establishing bases. Thus, NASA or Helios should be keen on bringing Kelly on board to help determine the presence of life on Mars, which would constitute a giant breakthrough in space exploration.
Even without Ed as NASA's commander, Danielle may still choose Kelly for the mission because she’s undoubtedly qualified for such work and she belongs to a famous family of space pioneers. Given that Ed and Karen are now working with Helios, it's possible that Kelly's parents will convince her to join their crew. Either way, Kelly could find herself traveling to Mars at the same time as her father, though it remains to be seen whether they will occupy the same shuttle.
In For All Mankind season 3, NASA has made it clear that it’s willing to bring in new faces and rid itself of old ones, based on the oustings of both Ed and Molly Cobb. Additionally, Danielle has already noted Danny Stevens as one of her crew selections, so it makes sense for a younger astronaut like Kelly to be involved too. Overall, For All Mankind season 3 hints at a thrilling space race that will inevitably feature the likes of the Apple TV+ drama's newer and older faces.
New episodes of For All Mankind release Fridays on Apple TV+.
In For All Mankind season 3's opening two episodes, Kelly Baldwin's role hints that she is primed to become a major player in the race for Mars.Madeline Lapreziosa