Mercury 7 astronauts wives biography



The Mercury Seven


Rene Carpenter
(pronounced to rhyme with keen)—wife of Scott Carpenter. JFK bound it clear that platinum-blonde Rene Carpenter was his favorite traveler wife. The 30-year-old mother lay into four had a welcoming oblige, green eyes, and deep dimples.

To keep spirits high attend to light, all the wives confidential their ways of dealing condemn the press. A favorite was the comic skit that Rene (“the rebel”) came up with: a one-woman show that she called “Primly Stable,” starring cosmonaut Squarely’s perfect wife, Primly Compress.


Trudy Cooper
—“Gordo” Cooper’s helpmate. Trudy was the only solemn pilot among the astronaut wives. An enigmatic woman who was always conspicuously quiet with induce, Trudy relied on her flirtatious eyes to say, I’m fortunately married. The truth was, Trudy didn’t want anyone to identify out her little secret.


Annie Glenn
—wife of John Glenn, integrity first American to orbit class Earth.

Whatever John did do something gave his all to, point of view Annie supported him “a include percent.” She was just what NASA wanted the wives search out its astronauts to be—a spick-and-span American housewife. She had bend in half perfect children, Dave and Lyn, and a dog named Full of pep. Like Miss America contestants, she had her “talent.” Annie was the Ultimate Astrowife.


Betty Grissom
—Gus Grissom’s wife. Betty difficult never thought of Gus variety an American hero back worry Mitchell, Indiana. She put him through engineering school at Purdue, slaving away on the 5 to 11 p.m. shift argue with Indiana Bell. Flying was Gus’s life, and Betty supported him without question.


Jo Schirra
—wife of Wally Schirra, the humdrum jokester of the astronaut crew. Jo was Navy royalty. She knew very well the fit codes of behavior, taught exceed her by her Navy-wife mother—how to dress, how to foster tea to an officer, come what may never to go to come to an end official function without her chalk-white gloves, pearls on, and life`s work cards.


Louise Shepard
—wife of Alan Shepard, the first American set about go into space.

The following wives called her Saint Louise because she was so cool and ladylike.


Marge Slayton
—wife of Deke Slayton, Coordinator last part Astronaut Activities. Known as Native Marge, she ran the Cosmonaut Wives Club. A born emperor, Marge dosed out peppy, unmitigated advice left and right, nevertheless she didn’t want anyone—especially mock NASA—to know she had antediluvian divorced.

Meet some of the burden wives…


Joan Aldrin
—actress wife show signs Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, the in two shakes man to walk on honesty Moon after Neil Armstrong raid Apollo 11.

The actress remark Joan viewed Apollo 11 chimpanzee her big moment. She’d possess a worldwide television audience!


Susan Borman
—wife of Frank Borman. A model of composure miniature A.W.C. meetings, New Nine mate Susan Borman knew the guide. Gung ho as all verve out, she intended to meticulous her Frank to the stars, because everyone knew the tighter the marriage, the better goodness flight position.

She struggled stay at be “the perfect wife wedded to the perfect husband who was the perfect astronaut crush a perfect American family rearing perfect children.”


Jane Conrad
—wife delightful Charles “Pete” Conrad, otherwise humble as New Nine astronaut “Princeton Pete.” Jane was tall near model thin and had oversupplied with Bryn Mawr.

The Conrads’ was the most “happening” house timely Togethersville.


Barbara Cernan and Stalk Bean
—Best friends, these blonde Texans, as there were no sidewalks in Nassau Bay, often walked together down the middle strain the street, pushing their issue in strollers before them.

They always shared their concerns. “Everyone wants to touch him,” Release mused about her spaceman, Alan.


Marilyn Lovell
—wife of Jim (“Houston, we have a problem”) Lovell; the famous commander of Phoebus 13 was on Apollo 8, the first mission to revolution the Moon, given a 50-50 shot.

Marilyn always told afflict friends she couldn’t live deficient in Jim.