Crippen, pilot for STS-1, during a training session

S79-25016 (13 Dec. 1978) --- Astronaut Robert L. Crippen, pilot for the first space shuttle orbital flight test, descends steps leading into the water immersion facility (WIF) during a training session in the Johnson Space Center?s training and test facility (Bldg. 260). The WIF affords one of two ways to simulate space extravehicular activity (EVA), the other being inside aircraft flying a parabolic curve. Crippen will be joined by astronaut John W. Young, commander for the first space shuttle flight (STS-1). Photo credit: NASA