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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Reply to comment by singularNihilist59 in Astronaut Neil Armstrong Floats In His Space Suit In A Pool Of Water In 1967 by 1Arcite
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.