KSC-81PC-0022

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Space Shuttle prime and backup astronaut crews are preparing to be briefed on the use of the emergency pad escape system, known as the “slidewire”. From left to right are backup astronauts Joe Engle and Richard Truly, and primary crew Commander John Young. Both the prime and backup crews wore the spacesuits and other equipment they will wear during a mission. The slidewire system provides a quick and sure escape from the upper pad platforms in case of a serious emergency. The flight crews wore the spacesuits and other equipment to be worn during a mission, but sandbags were used to duplicate the weight of riders in the slidewire baskets during the training. The STS-1 mission, known as a shuttle systems test flight, will seek to demonstrate safe launch into orbit and safe return of the orbiter and crew and verify the combined performance of the entire shuttle vehicle -- orbiter, solid rocket boosters and external tank. STS-1 will be launched from Pad A at the Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39 no earlier than March 1981.