Original 7 astronauts and their wives
Original 7 astronauts and their wives
Original 7 astronauts and their wives left...
The Mercury Seven mission astronauts left their wives depressed and isolated
“It was hard for us wives to understand what the men were experiencing. And they were treated like royalty.
It was hard for them to come home. What could ever compete with that? I was lucky if I could come second.”
Yet their husbands often returned to Earth feeling the high-point of their lives was behind them. Some, like moonwalker Buzz Aldrin, fell into depression and alcoholism.
But as the domestic pressure mounted, NASA thrust the wives into an often terrifying public arena, expected to attend social galas, charity events and fashion shows as the space agency’s dutiful role models for the American Dream.
“None of us was prepared for the exposure,” said Faye Stafford.
“I’m shy.
Original 7 astronauts and their wives names
I didn’t like the attention of those ‘casts of thousands dinners’. But you wanted to support your husband so you did it.”
NASA offered little help.
“Sometimes a protocol offi cer would summon us to give us advice such as,