ABC Orders THE ASTRONAUT WIVES Club to Series, Will Premiere this Summer

ABC is taking its viewers straight to the space age this summer.

According to Deadline, the network has ordered Stephanie Savage's THE ASTRONAUT WIVES CLUB, based on Lily Koppel's novel, to series. It's 10-episode first season is slated to premiere this summer, alongside returning drama MISTRESSES.

ABC picked up the 'CLUB' last fall, originally considering it as a limited series. The project was then given a traditional pilot order just a week-and-a-half ago.

The novel is officially described as:

"As America's Mercury Seven astronauts were launched on death-defying missions, television cameras focused on the brave smiles of their young wives. Overnight, these women were transformed from military spouses into American royalty. They had tea with Jackie Kennedy, appeared on the cover of Life magazine, and quickly grew into fashion icons.

Annie Glenn, with her picture-perfect marriage, was the envy of the other wives; JFK made it clear that platinum-blonde Rene Carpenter was his favorite; and licensed pilot Trudy Cooper arrived with a secret that needed to stay hidden from NASA. Together with the other wives they formed the Astronaut Wives Club, providing one another with support and friendship, coffee and cocktails.

As their celebrity rose--and as divorce and tragic death began to touch their lives--they continued to rally together, and forming bonds that would withstand the test of time, and they have stayed friends for over half a century. THE ASTRONAUT WIVES CLUB tells the real story of the women who stood beside some of the biggest heroes in American history."