Plot Synopsis

Based on the book by Lily Koppel, this ten-episode limited series, set in the 1960s, tells the story of the wives of Mercury, Gemini and Apollo astronauts. As America's astronauts were launched on death-defying missions, "Life Magazine" documented the astronauts' families, capturing the behind-the-scenes lives of their young wives. Overnight, these women were transformed from military spouses into American royalty. As their celebrity rose and tragedy began to touch their lives, they rallied together. THE ASTRONAUT WIVES CLUB focuses on these seven wives: Betty Grissom, a small-town girl thrust into the spotlight, who worked the night shift at Indiana Bell to put her husband and best friend Gus through engineering school; Rene Carpenter, a mother of four who attended college and whose journey in the public eye awakens her to a higher calling in politics, civil rights and women's issues; Louise Shepard, an intensely private person, who understands the image she's expected to project to the public, earning her the nickname 'Lady Louise' from the other wives; pilot Trudy Cooper, who agrees to reunite with Gordo for the sake of his career even though they were separated when he was selected to become an astronaut; Marge Slayton, who is forced to carve out her own identity as 'Mother Marge' in this tight-knit community when her husband, Deke, is grounded early in the Mercury program; Annie Glenn, who is the picture perfect American housewife -- athletic, cheerful, devoted to family and singing in the church choir -- despite her debilitating speech impediment; and Jo Schirra, a Navy officer daughter and consummate military wife, who knows the proper behavior in every circumstance, showing up to functions with perfect pearls and gloves.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On Thursday, August 20, 2015 at 8pm ET/PT, ABC premiered "Landing," the season finale of THE ASTRONAUT WIVES CLUB. It's 1969, and Apollo 11's historic moon landing is cause for worldwide celebration and a high point for the Astro-families. The wives are interviewed for a TV documentary on the space program, Gordo is passed over for the next mission, and Trudy faces some big decisions about her personal and professional future. Betty finds a powerful way to honor Gus's legacy and advocate for change. In April 1970, the nation watches the fraught voyage of Apollo 13