Ep 11. The Original Wives Club

From The Earth To The Moon is a 12-episode miniseries created by Tom Hanks and produced by HBO. Each episode explores a different aspect of NASA's Apollo program, from the early days of the space race to the historic moon landing.

In season 1, episode 11, titled "The Original Wives Club," viewers are taken behind the scenes of the Apollo program to meet the group of strong, independent women who stood by their astronaut husbands during the tumultuous 1960s and '70s.

The episode features interviews with several of the wives, who share their experiences from the early days of the space program to the aftermath of the Apollo 1 disaster, which claimed the lives of three astronauts in 1967. The wives provide a unique perspective on the space race, offering insights into the sacrifices, struggles, and triumphs that made the moon landing possible.

Viewers are introduced to the "Original Seven" astronauts and their wives, who were thrust into the spotlight when NASA chose them to lead the United States into space. The wives reveal how they coped with the long separations from their husbands, the media attention, and the uncertainty of the early space missions.

As their husbands became national heroes, the wives faced their own challenges, including the pressure to maintain a flawless public image and support their husbands through the rigorous training and testing required for spaceflight. Some of the wives also faced personal tragedies, including the death of a child or the end of a marriage.

Despite these hardships, the wives remained a close-knit community, forming what came to be known as the "Original Wives Club." They supported each other through the ups and downs of the space program, creating a network of friends and allies that helped them navigate the challenges of life in the public eye.

The episode also examines the impact of the Apollo 1 disaster, which shook the nation and threatened to derail America's space program. The wives describe how they coped with the loss of their friends and loved ones, and how they rallied around each other to support their husbands as they continued to push forward with the space program.

Through it all, the Original Wives Club remained a shining example of the strength and resilience of the human spirit. Their stories provide a fascinating glimpse into an era of American history when anything seemed possible, and the dreams of a few brave men and their wives propelled a nation to the stars.

"The Original Wives Club" is a moving tribute to the women who stood by their husbands' side during one of the most exciting and challenging periods in human history. Their stories are a testament to the power of love, resilience, and determination, and a reminder that no dream is too big to achieve if we have the courage to pursue it.