Tonight on ABC their new drama The Astronaut Wives Club airs with an all new episode and the season 1 Premiere called, “Launch.” On tonight’s show the series premiere of this adaptation of Lily Koppel’s novel tells the story of seven women whom, in the opener, are transformed and forever bonded when their husbands are chosen to be the first Americans in space.
For those of you who don’t know, The Astronaut Wives Club is a new television drama series based on the book by Lily Koppel, focuses on seven women who were key players behind some of the biggest events in American history.
On tonight’s show per say the ABC synopsis “Seven women are transformed, seemingly overnight, from military spouses to American royalty as they prepare for the mission of a lifetime when NASA chooses their husbands – talented test pilots from around the country – to be the first Americans in space! These women who once were strangers rally around their husbands and their country. With death defying missions underway, these women form a bond only they could understand. As Alan Shepherd is tapped to be the first to go up, his wife Louise is the picture of strength as she handles the pressures of space exploration and her responsibilities as wife and mother. With the other women by her side”
Tonight’s episode is going to be an exciting one filled with drama that you won’t want to miss. Be sure to tune in for our live coverage of ABC’s The Astronaut Wives Club tonight at 10 PM EST!
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RECAP:
#AstronautWives begins with a liftoff at NASA and families watching. It’s May 5, 1961. Alan Shepard’s wife watches. Two years earlier, Alan’s wife Louise comes to see him at work with a message from NASA. She finds him alone with his secretary who gives her a sly look. Alan invites her to stay while he calls NASA. He makes the call then tells his wife that he got it and grabs her up in a hug and a kiss. She tells him he’s going to be an astronaut.
Then we see news of the Russian’s satellite launch of Sputnik and then the US attempts to launch a satellite failing. We see Eisenhower promise to put men into orbit. Seven men are announced as Project Mercury astronauts. The men sit at a press conference that captures the nation’s attention. Alan and Louise head to a big party to celebrate Mercury hosted by Life Magazine. Scott Carpenter and his wife Rene arrive and meet the new couple.
Duncan tells his writer that he needs to convince the astronaut wives on board with the project. John and Annie Glenn show up next and John says Annie was excited to meet the other wives. Louise isn’t happy about being lured into bridge and bake sales with other wives. Alan points out Gordo Cooper who he says is a hell of a test pilot. He dances with his wife Trudy. They chat with Wally Schirra. Gus Grissom’s wife Betty introduces herself to Louise.
Trudy listens to Deke’s wife tell an anecdote. Louise meets Marge Slayton and Trudy says their husbands worked together. Louise says Alan told her that Gordo was his main competition and Trudy says Gordo has no competition and calls Alan a desk jockey. The wives debate the merits of their husbands and Jo Schirra weighs in. Max Kaplan, the reporter from Life, introduces himself and asks to get to know them. He says they’ll split a half million dollars among them.
He says they want them all in the magazine. Rene says the husbands are the heroes and Max says they’re also offering a large life insurance policy. He says they should do it for America. He says NASA wants to win the space race in the air and the media. He says the wives and kids put a good face on it. They wonder if it’s propaganda but then Max says it could help their husbands win a slot on the flight. Louise says she’s in if it will help. Trudy says they’re all in.
Max has the wives assemble for a photo shoot. Louise shows up early and asks where he wants her to stand. Some of the other wives are nervous about the interview. Trudy says Gordo is infuriating but he deserves to be there. Trudy jokes about going int space and Annie says pigs will go to space first. Trudy reminds her pigs have been in space. Rene shows up in a bright flowered dress. Louise says the others were told to wear pastels but Rene is undeterred. She stands out beautifully.
The news reports the coverage of the wives and family and calls them Astro Families. Duncan hands over car keys to each of the wives – brand new cars. He says NASA thinks this sends the right message and says if they don’t have a dog to get one. He says the cars are in a color called moonglow. The men got sports cars in different colors and drive them to Cocoa Beach, Florida. Alan flirts with a beach bunny while the other guys run to splash in the water.
Max is at a backyard BBQ and he says Mrs Slayton’s place looks good despite no husband. Betty explains they’re used to their husbands being gone. Rene shows up with an outfit matching her dessert and Max has them snap a photo. Louise is making food while the photographer snaps pics of her and the kids come in playing with her things and he snaps photos. She asks him to please go outside. The kids spot a military trunk and Marge tells her that the other ones are all getting the press anyway.
She asks how she competes with any of this. The men are partying with ladies at the beach. Trudy talks to Gordo and Alan flirts heavily. He asks Gordon to swap rooms since he has a bigger bed. Trudy hears and hangs up on him. Duncan gets a call from Trudy who tells him it would be great if the wives came down for the test launch. Duncan says it would be a great idea and she says it would be even better if it’s a surprise for the guys. He agrees. Trudy smirks.
The women head to Cocoa Beach and find bikini clad women all over. Trudy glares at Gordon who is swimming in his full suit. Louise sees Alan coming out of the boat with his arm around a woman. She says she’s going to unpack and says it’s been a long day. She walks off embarrassed in front of the other wives and his obvious infidelity.
Later the wives talk about how Louise is too smart to divorce him and Trudy reveals that she was about to divorce Gordon but then he got the shot at the Mercury project so she dropped it. Trudy says she will never forgive Gordo for cheating and Marge says he can’t help it since he’s beautiful. Annie is asked by a reporter about John perhaps having the shot at the first launch. Rene runs down and tells the reporter he has been rude and upset her. Turn out Annie has a significant stutter. She thanks Rene.
The guys show up and Scott grabs up Rene who squeals. Louise opens the blinds and wakes a hung over Alan. She tells him everyone warned her about him – she says her family and his family both – and she married him anyway because she loves him. She says she thinks he can be amazing and tells him not to humiliate her especially not in public. Alan says he’s sorry and she says that’s good. The crowd gathers to watch the first unmanned Mercury mission.
Max is on hand for the occasions as are the astronauts and the wives. Louise says the men must be thrilled since next time it will be one of them. The rocket explodes in a horrific fire ball and Louise says at least the monkey wasn’t in it. The women are horrified that their men could have been in there. Louise says it’s fine but Betty says it could have been her Gus in there. Trudy says an exploding rocket is fine, an unfaithful husband is fine too. Trudy says Louise doesn’t have to put up with it and should challenge him to be better. Louise says he’s the best and the best man and woman will win.
Louise walks away from them and toward the water. She puts on her sunglasses and fights back tears. The men are undergoing exercises and training for their missions. The press is watching. Glenn, Grissom and Shepard are the three that will be contenders for the first mission. Alan shows up to see the girls at school and tells them and Louise he’s getting the first shot. He tells Louise it’s because of her and says he wants her to come to the Cape too.
It’s April 12, 1961 and Duncan knocks on Alan’s door saying he needs a statement. He comes into the hotel room and tells Louise and Alan that the Russians just got a man into space – Yuri Gagarin and they’re saying he orbited. Duncan says the US needs this and Alan more than ever. Trudy is upset that Life put Gagarin on the cover and the wives wonder how Louise and Alan are taking this. Trudy wonders if Louise will go through the launch alone.
Alan comes back to the hotel room and Louise says she already called a cab. He offers to drive her but she declines. He tells her he’s not worried and she says then she won’t worry either. Trudy takes a call from Gordo who tells her he’s doing the countdown and will have his finger on the button. He tells her he’s missed talking to her. Betty tells Gus she’s glad that Alan is going up first as much as she wanted it for him. Alan drives Louise to the airport and they cuddle on the way.
He kisses her goodbye and she tells him to come home safe. We see coverage of Alan walking to the capsule while reporters are all over the Shepard’s lawn. Louise closes the curtains against the attention. The other wives show up to watch the launch. They have food and champagne. They tell her she shouldn’t be alone. Trudy says no one can know what she’s going through but they’re the next best thing. Louise says she’s fine and starts to close the door.
Trudy tells her not to turn up her nose at some human kindness and Louise says if they want to be kind, they should protect her privacy. Max asks Louise why she sent them away and she says she doesn’t need giddy women with deviled eggs. The ladies go to Marge’s to party. Everyone watches and counts down. It’s just Louise, Max and the girls at her house. The world watches with fingers crossed. Trudy says he’s up now they just need him to come down.
Max asks Louise for some words for the Life readers. She stares intently at the screen and Max says he’ll go to the other room but Louise grabs his arm to stop him. Gus listens to Alan on the radio and everything looks good. The news anchors say they’re waiting on word now. Capcom waits for word from Alan but it’s radio silence for a moment. The reading looks good and Scott and Wally are int eh chase planes. Everyone wonders if it’s supposed to take this long.
Gus radios Alan again. Duncan is sweating it. Louise is terrified. Alan radios that he copies and the mission control room breaks into cheers. The news anchor reports that Alan is okay. The nation cheers. Trudy and the other wives break into the champagne and toast his success. Louise is stunned and Max reminds her she promised the press a comment. She stands and is a little dizzy. She tells him Alan nor anyone else can know she was scared. Max offers to handle the reporters.
He goes outside and tells all of the reporters to move back and give her some space. Louise says she’s grateful to the Mercury program and says it’s a victory not just for Alan but for America and the free world. She thanks the press and they applaud her. She’s poised and calm. Trudy and the other wives watch Kennedy welcome Alan and Louise to the White House. Marge says they’ll all get there. They call Louise the First Lady of space.
We see Louise bouncing on a bed in the White House while Alan watches. She’s all smiles. She tells Alan she can’t believe this room or this day. Alan smiles at her. She says she’s tired and says it was wonderful but exhausting. Alan agrees it was a big day. She says he was amazing and says now they can take a step back and breathe. He tells her Kennedy asked if they could put a man on the moon and he told him yes. Alan says they’re going to the moon so no breathing.
Louise says they’ll get through it together and it’s why they have each other. He tells her there’s a plane leaving tonight and he has to be on it. He tells her he’ll call her tomorrow and takes off. Gordo chats up a woman when Alan shows up and the woman he was talking to says he’s the first man in space. Gordo says there was a Russian and a chimp there first. Alan invites the woman to a party and she agrees to come and bring her friends. Alan puts his arm around a girl and they ask if Gordo is coming.
His phone is ringing but he walks off to party with them. Trudy is calling but doesn’t get him because he’s out looking for trouble with Alan. Louise comes to see Trudy and asks if she’s still offering human kindness. Trudy asks about her sense of privacy. Louise says she can’t change who she is but says with the moon project, the wives need each other. Rene makes a call to Betty and asks her if Trudy is having a party. They wonder if they should pop by. They find Louise, Trudy and Marge there.
The phone rings and they talk about Annie’s moves. Gus calls for Betty. She comes back and tells them that Gus is going up next. She says she’s going to be the second lady of space. Louise gets up and dances a little and they tease her. She grabs Marge’s hand and tells the others to dance. Rene grabs the table and they move it to dance. Louise is asked about this new adventure. She says they have to trust that it will be successful and says they’re not traveling alone.
