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singularNihilist59 t1_j9d6ub4 wrote

sorry! space noob here! why is he just floating there? is he acclimatizing himself to zero gravity or something?

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fuvywrklrlfwpbpmjq t1_j9g9ok3 wrote

This is a fun question! NASA used swimming pools during Apollo training for two reasons:

First, to practice the final stage of an Apollo mission: splashdown. If the capsule sinks (which happened to Gus Grissom during the Mercury program), astronauts need to be able to exit the capsule and float until they are rescued.

Second, to practice operating in space outside of their spaceship, called EVA (extra-vehicular activity).

Looking at the photo, I'm guessing this was spashdown training.

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