The first astronauts selected by NASA were the superstars of their era. Behind the scenes there were the wives, the unsung heroes.
"I always felt like they were the ones that really paid the price," former Apollo astronaut Walter Cunningham said.
Cunningham says his memories of those early days of NASA are decidedly different than the scenes portrayed in the book the "Astronaut Wives Club." But that was the objective, a different view of NASA's space program that will now become a television series. Butch Kaplan is one of the producers.
"Do you feel Houston has what you're looking for?" we asked Kaplan.
"Absolutely. Definitely, this is the best place to do the show," he said.
The entire series will be shot in Houston, starting in April. Kaplan and his team are just beginning to scour the city for houses that will portray the astronauts' homes.
"Anywhere there are 50's houses that are intact and in good condition, and hopefully has an interior that has not been vastly updated," he said.
And cars from the 1950s and 60s, like those in Jeff Pate's body shop.
"There's a lot of connections with astronauts and Corvettes -- definitely, fast cars," Pate said.
Besides looking for classic cars and homes, producers are also searching for set pieces, furniture and even some vintage clothes you might have in your closet.
Producers will shoot 10 episodes in Houston. There will be opportunities for Houstonians to also participate as extras.
It's a chance for Space City to show off its history to the rest of America.
"And because this is Houston specific and so important to the development of Houston, corresponding to the development of the space program, it's just win-win proposition all the way around," said Rick Ferguson with the Houston Film Commission.
Filming is set to begin soon.
For people who are looking to have their homes, cars, showcased and for casting announcements, the Houston Film Commission website has all the details.
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