THE MERCURY 7 WIVES MEET THE WOMEN OF GEMINI PROJECT, AND THE COLD WAR INTENSIFIES ON "THE ASTRONAUT WIVES CLUB," JULY 9

"Liftoff" - While the Cold War intensifies and the Cuban Missile Crisis comes to a head, the Mercury 7 families begin glamorous new lives in Houston. But Houston also marks the start of the Gemini Project, and with it, the arrival of the Gemini wives, which changes the dynamic among all the women. Marge and Deke embrace new roles after learning about Deke's permanent status, and Trudy and Gordo's personal "cold war" begins to thaw on "The Astronaut Wives Club," airing THURSDAY, JULY 9 (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 Luke Kirby as Max Kaplan and Evan Handler as Duncan Porter, Catherine Dent as Beverly Davis, Haley Strode as Jane Conrad and Antonio Bernath as Susan Borman. "Liftoff" was written by Lisa Zwerling and directed by J. Miller Tobin.

"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"). 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. A TV parental guideline will be assigned closer to airdate.