Warning: Spoilers for For All Mankind season 3, episode 3, "All In."

An intriguing divergence from real-world history transpires in For All Mankind season 3 when the fictional former astronaut and NASA administrator Ellen Wilson defeats Bill Clinton in the 1992 U.S. presidential election. After a time jump from 1992 to 1994, current NASA administrator Margo Madison answers a phone call from Ellen, to whom she refers as "Madam President," as Ellen is shown sitting in the Oval Office. America's Commander-in-Chief congratulates Margo on the launch of NASA's Sojourner 1 ship to Mars, which coincided with the missions of Helios' Pheonix and the Soviet Union's Mars-94. Given Ellen's enduring status as one of For All Mankind's central figures in the space race, her ascent to the presidency signifies major implications for season 3's events.

Jodi Balfour's character began as one of NASA's 20 female astronaut candidates and was one of four to pass the program. After four tours and 723 days spent as Jamestown's commander on the Moon, Ellen took a role as deputy administrator of NASA and later became acting administrator when Thomas Paine died in a plane crash. Ellen's high-ranking leadership led to her pursuit of politics, as she was elected as a U.S. Senator of Texas prior to her assumption of the presidency. Ellen's illustrious career has unfortunately come at the cost of her personal life. Her refusal to publicly identify as a lesbian shattered her relationship with Pam Horton and compelled her to marry her also-closeted gay friend, Larry Wilson, who she met at NASA in For All Mankind season 1.

Related: For All Mankind's NASA Finally Fixes The Mistake That Lost Them The Moon

Although with limited screen time thus far in For All Mankind season 3, Ellen has finally emerged as the series' premier administrative figure. Her status as America's leader exists as a product of the series' alternate history leading up to season 3 and a beacon of what's to come. As an extraterrestrial trailblazer herself, Ellen is poised to impact the space race more than any U.S. president before her, which promises to heavily influence For All Mankind season 3's overarching story, as well as Ellen's personal journey.

Jodi Balfour as President Ellen Wilson in For All Mankind season 3 episode 3

The real-life Clinton administration did not prioritize America's space program during its tenure from 1993-2001. Despite his public support for "a continued, aggressive exploration of space in ways that are high quality, cost-effective and that will benefit us here on Earth," Clinton actually reduced NASA's budget. Still, he emphasized the importance of global collaboration in space through the International Space Station. It goes without saying that For All Mankind's Ellen Wilson champions space exploration more than her opponent. During a debate, Clinton argues that the money dedicated to launching NASA's Mars mission two years earlier could be better serviced toward putting food on the table for Americans. Thus, Ellen's victorious presidential campaign in For All Mankind season 3 illustrates how the prolonged space race shifted the public's valuation of off-Earth affairs.

On a different note, Ellen's presidency could produce a personal reckoning for the former astronaut, who has concealed her sexuality from the public over the series' three decades. In For All Mankind season 1, the FBI investigated both Ellen and Larry under suspicion that they were both gay until the fake couple's marriage warded them off. Given Ellen and Larry's lofty status as America's First Couple, blackmail is not out of the question. Otherwise, Ellen's resentment for hiding her identity — which she heartily expressed in season 2 — may resurface a decade later, this time unable to subside in favor of her professional aspirations.

For All Mankind season 3's appointment of Ellen as America's first female president mirrors season 1's introduction of female astronauts, which demonstrated the alternate space race's generation of increased opportunities for women in NASA and, in turn, the U.S. government. As a former astronaut and NASA employee, Ellen is inclined to staunchly back the space agency’s efforts to colonize the Red Planet and explore the cosmos further. The immeasurable pressure due to the presence of the private company Helios in addition to the Soviets implies a pivotal role for Ellen as the United States President in For All Mankind season 3.

Next: Dev & Helios Are Exactly What For All Mankind's Mars Race Needed

New episodes of For All Mankind release Fridays on Apple TV+.