Posts: 691 From: Monticello, KY USA Registered: Mar 2007
posted 04-02-2007 12:40 AM
Does anyone know if there have been any books written about the spouses of astronauts? I have never seen any in my research, and I think that it would be interesting to see thier side of the story.
paul.i.w Member
Posts: 65 From: UK Registered: Feb 2006
posted 04-02-2007 02:11 AM
One that I have read is Mary Irwin's 'The Moon is Not Enough'. She was the wife of Apollo 15's LM pilot Jim Irwin, and this is an account of 'her side' of the moon landing story.
Lola Morrow Member
Posts: 40 From: Denver Co USA Registered: Jun 2006
posted 04-02-2007 09:46 AM
Over the years I have talked with some of the wives and in the early days, we were quite close especially during their husband's launch. I have the highest regard for many of them. Some were quite difficult. Stress can do a lot of things. We were all under it during the "race to the moon." I still stay in touch with several.
Ken Havekotte Member
Posts: 2915 From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard Registered: Mar 2001
posted 04-02-2007 02:29 PM
Don't forget that Charlie Duke's Moonwalker book first published in 1990 was co-authored by his wife, Dotty.
The early excitement and glamour of Dotty's marriage to an astronaut too soon wore thin because of neglect and indifference -- and her contemplation of suicide nearly ended their marriage.
There have been many articles, press clippings, and other written accounts from a wives' point of view concerning their problems and difficulties with their astronaut-husband marriages and relationships.
E2M Lem Man Member
Posts: 846 From: Los Angeles CA. USA Registered: Jan 2005
posted 04-10-2007 03:38 PM
You might want to check out the Apollo 16 episode of "From the Earth to the Moon" - "First Wives Club" co-written and directed by Sally Field and Tom Hanks.
They tried in that hour episode to tell about the second class of astronauts' wives, and how some lived and some survived their tours as astronaut wives. Very interesting and worth a peek!
Lunar rock nut Member
Posts: 911 From: Oklahoma city, Oklahoma U.S.A. Registered: Feb 2007
posted 04-10-2007 03:48 PM
Also a lot of focus was given to the wives in "The Right Stuff" movie. Especially John Glenn's wife refusing to see Vice President Johnson and the fit he threw over that...
music_space Member
Posts: 1179 From: Canada Registered: Jul 2001
posted 03-12-2010 10:09 AM
This April 2009 TV piece from Russia Today has an air of the 1960's, both from its subject matter and its artistic treatment. It's Life magazine all over again! Three wives reflect on their husbands' calling for space.
Interestingly, one is a wife to American astronaut Michael Fincke (Renita Saikia is also the mother of their five kids). The second one is cosmonaut Yuri Lanchokov's wife Tatyana, while the third was married to spaceflight participant Charles Simonyi between his two space flights.
Paul23 Member
Posts: 836 From: South East, UK Registered: Apr 2008
posted 03-12-2010 10:24 AM
Not a book, but there was a BBC4 documentary called Apollo Wives broadcast back in the summer. It was based around a reunion of wives of Apollo astronauts all talking about their experiences before, during and after their marriges.
I believe they said at the end of the programe that every woman featured in it was either divorced or widowed.
astroborg Member
Posts: 200 From: Woodbridge, VA, USA Registered: Nov 2000
posted 03-12-2010 11:59 AM
If I'm not mistaken, I believe that the current wives of the Apollo 8 crew (Borman, Lovell and Anders) are their original/first wives. Not to say that it was a picnic being an astronaut's wife. Kudos to them and their families.
jasonelam Member
Posts: 691 From: Monticello, KY USA Registered: Mar 2007
posted 03-12-2010 01:33 PM
Thanks for all of the information!
As for first wives in the Apollo program, I think there were nine that remained married to their astronaut spouse. Kind of a sad percentage, but you have to consider the huge sacrifices that they made.
posted 03-12-2010 01:56 PM
Mike Mullane's book 'Riding Rockets' goes into great detail about his wife and their relationship. He seems very sensitive to understanding her side of everything especially the terror of launch day and having to do it all over again after a scrub or abort. To a lesser extent, Tom Jones has several passages in "Sky Walking" that detail what his wife put up with and how he admired her.
FFrench Member
Posts: 3161 From: San Diego Registered: Feb 2002
posted 03-12-2010 06:01 PM
"Starfall" is written with Betty Grissom.
Mary Irwin's "The Moon is Not Enough" is her primary book about being an astronaut wife, but she has written other books which touch on the themes.
Evelyn Husband, widow of Rick Husband, wrote "High Calling."
June Scobee Rodgers, widow of Dick Scobee, wrote "Silver Linings."
Although written as Don's first-person point of view, his wife Kathleen Lind is named as the author for "Don Lind: Mormon Astronaut."
Paul23 Member
Posts: 836 From: South East, UK Registered: Apr 2008
posted 03-20-2010 09:49 AM
I've no idea what access those in America have to BBC programming but there is a repeat of the Apollo Wives documentary on BBC4 on Sunday night at ten past midnight UK time (I suppose that technically makes it Monday morning!)
posted 04-02-2007 12:40 AM
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