'Constellation' Episode 1 Takeaway: Jo Ericsson finds dead body as twists and suspense escalate in spaceship drama

Episode 1 of Apple TV's 'Constellation' establishes a gripping premise revolving around a female astronaut
UPDATED FEB 21, 2024
Noomi Rapace as Jo Ericsson  in 'Constellation' (@Apple Tv+)
Noomi Rapace as Jo Ericsson in 'Constellation' (@Apple Tv+)

Contains spoilers for 'Constellation'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA:On February 21, 2024, Apple TV+ released the first three episodes of 'Constellation,' a psychological thriller series starring Noomi Rapace, Jonathan Banks, James D’Arcy, Julian Looman and William Catlett in pivotal roles.

Created by Peter Harness, the series centers on Jo Ericsson (Noomi Rapace), an astronaut who returns to Earth after a space disaster, only to discover that certain aspects of her life are missing or changed.

Collision damages the spaceship

William Catlett as Paul Lancaster in 'Constellation' (@AppleTV+)
William Catlett as Paul Lancaster in 'Constellation' (@Apple TV+)

As the explosion unfolds 286 miles above Earth on the International Space Station (ISS), Paul Lancaster (William Catlett) is diligently working on a project when disaster strikes. An explosion rocks the station, hurling a piece that pierces Paul's arm, ultimately resulting in his tragic demise.

Jo and other crew members team up to get the station up and running. Despite their efforts, the damage is irreplaceable. Critical systems such as power supply and secondary life support are severely compromised.

Jo Ericsson discovers a dead body

A still from 'Constellation' (@Apple TV+)
A still from 'Constellation' (@Apple TV+)

As Jo Ericsson steps out for the spacewalk, she is met with a harrowing sight: a gaping tear in the spaceship's hull. Upon closer inspection, she discovers a lifeless body entangled in the truss.

Recognizing the distinct uniform of a Soviet cosmonaut, Jo deduces that the dead body is of a female astronaut from the USSR who lost her life in a failed mission.

Unable to relay the visuals to the ground team in real-time, Jo communicates the grim discovery via email, ensuring that crucial information reaches those on the mission's support team.

Amid the chaos, the European space agency takes charge, prioritizing evacuation over NASA's plans to continue the experiment.

As the International Space Station (ISS) faces a critical situation with only enough capacity for three out of the four remaining crew members to evacuate, a difficult decision must be made. Jo selflessly volunteers to stay behind, ensuring that her fellow crew members can safely return home.

With only 19 hours of oxygen left, she must salvage whatever resources and equipment she can on board. Will Jo make it alive or face the fate of USSR cosmonaut, who floats in the space for eternity?

‘Constellation’ Episode 1 is now available to stream on Apple TV+.

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