TRAGEDY HITS HOME, ON "THE ASTRONAUT WIVES CLUB"

"Rendezvous" - As the Gemini missions are being successfully launched and the Apollo program kicks into high gear, the pressure on the wives grows exponentially. Gemini wife Marilyn Lovell hides an unexpected pregnancy and other wives face an even greater challenge - becoming the first space widows--on "The Astronaut Wives Club" airing THURSDAY, JULY 30 (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 Evan Handler as Duncan Porter, Haley Strode as Jane Conrad, Antonia Bernath as Susan Borman, Nora Zehetner as Marilyn See, Holley Fain as Marilyn Lovell, Alexa Havens as Pat White, Elaine Carroll as Harriet Eisele, Matt Lanter as Ed White and Ryan Doom as Donn Eisele. "Rendezvous" was written by Becky Hartman Edwards and directed by Elodie Keene.

"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. This program carries a TV-PG,L parental guideline.