Morgan Burch

It's Scott Carpenter's turn to go up, and as the world, and the Astronaut Wives, ready themselves for his launch, Rene receives the opportunity to tell her own story, in her own words, in LIFE Magazine.

In the series premiere, 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.

As Louise and Alan Shepard bask in the success of his mission, Betty Grissom preps for Gus' launch and turns to Louise for advice. And Annie Glenn grapples with her stutter, anticipating that the press will want to hear from her after John's orbit is completed.

As the struggle for Civil Rights upends the nation, the Astrowives fight their own battles in their marriages and the world at large. Trudy learns of attempts to quash a budding astronaut training program for women, and John Glenn considers a run for public office.