SERIES PREMIERE

AMERICA MEETS THE FIRST WOMEN OF SPACE WHEN "THE ASTRONAUT WIVES CLUB" PREMIERES THURSDAY, JUNE 18 ON ABC

The Compelling New Drama Follows the Lives of Seven Women Who Were Key Players Behind Some of the Biggest Events in American History

"Launch" - 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, the race to space is on in the premiere episode of "The Astronaut Wives Club," THURSDAY, JUNE 18 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

"The Astronaut Wives Club" stars JoAnna Garcia Swisher as Betty Grissom; Yvonne Strahovski as Rene Carpenter; Dominique McElligott as Louise Shepard; Odette Annable as Trudy Cooper; Erin Cummings as Marge Slayton; Azure Parsons as Annie Glenn; Zoe Boyle as Jo Schirra; Desmond Harrington as Alan Shepard; Bret Harrison as Gordo Cooper; Wilson Bethel as Scott Carpenter; Kenneth Mitchell as Deke Slayton; Joel Johnstone as Gus Grissom; Sam Reid as John Glenn and Aaron McCusker as Wally Schirra.

Guest starring are Luke Kirby as Max Kaplan and Evan Handler as Duncan Porter. "Launch'" was written by Stephanie Savage.

"The Astronaut Wives Club" is executive produced by Stephanie Savage ("Gossip Girl", "The O.C."); Josh Schwartz ("The O.C"; "Chuck"); Len Goldstein ("The Carrie Diaries", "Hart of Dixie"); Michael London ("Milk", "Appaloosa") and Janice Williams ("All Good Things", "The Hollars") Lone Scherfig ("An Education") is an Executive Producer and the Director of "Launch."

The series is produced by ABC Studios, Fake Empire and Groundswell and is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format with 5.1 channel surround sound. This program carries a TV-PG,L parental guideline.