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I got into a debate over whether the folks on the Resolute are the first batch of colonists headed to Alpha Centauri.

I say they're not the first batch because:

  • The promotional video seems to depict life at the colony.
  • They're called the 24th Colonist Group.
  • One of the kids asks Don West what Alpha Centauri is like, since he's been there three times.

The other party says they are the first because:

  • Maureen is working on the design of the Jupiters and the Resolute right up until they go.

    * It's implied that the speed of the Resolute is due to stolen alien engine technology from the "Christmas star" that happens just a year or two before their departure.

Have I missed something definitive?

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  • IDK about the other two, but I think the middle point means they were number 24 on the Resolute, that's all.
    – Adamant
    Commented Jun 4, 2018 at 19:15
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    There are several references to the fact that there are already people on Alpha Centauri, most notably several conversations with Don West about his previous trips there and back.
    – Dave Johnson
    Commented Jun 4, 2018 at 19:24
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    @HarryJohnston: I think the underlying assumption is that it wasn't actually feasible to get to Alpha Centauri in a slow ship. It would have to have been a generation ship or a sleeper ship.
    – Adrian McCarthy
    Commented Jun 4, 2018 at 23:53
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    @Jontia, oh, I thought it was another movie. Thanks for the clarification.
    – Harry Johnston
    Commented Jun 5, 2018 at 8:11
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    @AdrianMcCarthy having finally got to the end, I can see why the truncated timeline is causing people issues. I reckon they have to be running the colony missions at a minimum of once a month to fit your spoiler text in with the Mission number.
    – Jontia
    Commented Jun 21, 2018 at 9:37

1 Answer 1

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As pointed out in the question, the Robinsons are in the 24th colonist group. There are numerous instances where the show implies or outright states that others have gone before them.

  • Episode 1: Before the crash sequence, Maureen tells them not to worry because The Resolute has done this 23 times before.
  • Episode 1: The "24" patch does not refer to their number within this colonisation group. That would be "2", their ship is the Jupiter 2.
  • Episode 4: Don is smuggling Whiskey to someone. It could be on spec to the current wave of colonists, I suppose.
  • Episode 5: Penny asks if they will get "one of those sweet family units in town".
  • Episode 6: Angela's husband is referred to a the 7th musician selected for colonisation, sending 7 in the first wave would be a large burden on the small colony. Assuming they lack other technical skill sets.
  • Episode 7: Evan tells Judy that his brother is already at the colony with his "horrible wife".

While the above makes it clear this is mission 24, the Episode 9 revelation;

The "Christmas Star" was a crashed alien space ship, who's engine is incorporated into the Resolute. Means they appear to be running one or two colony missions a month, based on the lack of the Robinson children (Will especially) visibly ageing between the flashback to the news report and their departure for the colony.

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