Constellation draws some narrative parallels with a chilling real-life 20th-century mystery, which makes its gripping sci-fi storyline even creepier.

Apple TV+’s Constellation draws parallels with a real 20th-century mystery, which makes its sci-fi drama even more creepy. From its opening episodes itself, Constellation dips its feet into real science by gradually educating audiences about the basics of quantum mechanics. Even its central plot device, the Cold Atom Lab (CAL), is based on a real quantum experiment that was sent to the real world’s International Space Station. However, since Constellation falls in the sci-fi category, it obviously presents some over-the-top fantastical narrative elements as well that stretch beyond the boundaries of scientific possibility.

Then, there are also other story beats in Constellation that seem scientifically improbable and yet have some shocking real-world parallels. One of these story beats shows up in the Apple TV+ show’s episode 5, and it is hard not to believe it is entirely fictional. However, a closer look at Constellation‘s real-world references suggests that as unrealistic as the episode 5 story arc may seem, it seemingly draws inspiration from a strange real-world event.

The True Story Inspirations Behind Constellation Explained

In Constellation‘s episode 5, the main character, Jo, visits the Skagerrak siblings after they send her mysterious tapes containing the recordings of her and other eerie ISS events. Laurenz Skagerrak tells her that she and her brother have been using spare military radio equipment to intercept signals from outer space. While international space organizations try to bury the truth about what happened to Jo on the ISS, Laurenz presents her recordings that prove something was not right on the ISS before she made it back home. Constellation‘s Skagerrak siblings surprisingly seem to be based on two real brothers.

Although their pursuit initially started by listening to transmissions from Sputnik 1 and 2 and even Explorer 1, like the Skagerrak siblings, they, too, started hearing mysterious distress broadcasts in which individuals begged for help.

Like the siblings from Constellation, Achille and Giovanni Judica-Cordiglia bought surplus war radio gear to tune in and listen to sounds from humanity’s outer space endeavors (via Vice). Although their pursuit initially started by listening to transmissions from Sputnik 1 and 2 and even Explorer 1, like the Skagerrak siblings, they, too, started hearing mysterious distress broadcasts in which individuals begged for help. On May 17, 1961, they even captured an eerie message from an unknown source: “Conditions growing worse, why don’t you answer? We are going slower… the world will never know about us.”

Constellation’s Real World Parallels Make It Better

When the brothers speculated their recordings proved that the Soviet Union was covering up for failed space missions, many skeptics dismissed their claims by saying they forged their recordings. Regardless of what actually happened, Constellation’s true story connotations make its mind-bending sci-fi drama feel even more realistic. While Constellation‘s exploration of parallel universes and cosmic swaps is fantastical, the fact that it grounds many of its plot devices, including the Skagerrak siblings’ backstory and the Cold Atom Lab’s function, is a testament to its creators’ commitment to blending fiction with plausible science.

Constellation ‘s finale releases on Apple TV+ on 27 March 2024.