Always Second? The Astronaut Wife's View

Paper number

IAC-07-A1.1.03

Author

Dr. Phyllis J. Johnson, University of British Columbia, Canada

Year

2007

Abstract

From the perspective of the early astronauts, their wives, and NASA, work was the primary focus in the lives of astronauts. It was acceptable for work to interfere with family activities, but family concerns were not supposed to interfere with the astronaut's work. Indeed, this perspective reflects how men and women in general were expected to combine work and family careers in the 1960s and 1970s. From the beginning of the space program, wives were expected to show the "right stuff," to be the ideal family in the public image, to be there for the launch and reunion, and to participate in media events, parades, and p;ublicity trips. Above all, spouses were expected to accept that work had priority over family activities.  Over the short history of the space program, the astronaut's work may still be a priority in the life of the astronaut, but how partners expect to participate in his/her career may be different, due to changes in societal expectations about male and female work and family roles.

Drawing upon memoirs, media interviews, and biographies, this paper will identify the wives' views about the effect of the astronaut career on marriage and family relationships. The focus is about wives' views because the materials available from female astronauts do not provide sufficient information about their spouse's view, and some do not have a spouse or partner. Specific aspects of the astronaut career and of family life are analyzed. These include: selection to NASA; launch, time in space, and reunion; and important family events such as childbirth, birthdays, holidays, and death of a relative. The views of the early and later astronaut wives will be compared to identify continuity and change in how wives view the astronaut career and its effect on marital and family relationships. Are they and their families always second to the astronaut career?  What consequences to the marital and family relationship do they identify?

Abstract document

IAC-07-A1.1.03.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-07-A1.1.03.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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