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1963, in preparation for the Gemini 6 mission, The US Air Force conducted water survival training exercises for the crew in cooperation with Pioneer Parasail who provided the parasail gear and technical support. The purpose of this training was to familiarize and develop confidence in flight crews with techniques and procedures proven successful in sea survival following ditching or bailout over water while wearing a parachute. 1965, "Astronaut Thomas Stafford" (left) parasail’s over Galveston Bay wearing a parasail harnessed space suit, helmet and carrying water survival gear hanging below him as shown in the picture below. Water Survival Training for the military began in earnest in Germany during WWII where paratroopers using regular parachutes, were trained to survive water landings