Rodolfo Margaria and the First Walk on the Moon

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: During the Cold War years, the Space Race was largely supported by the efforts of many engineers and scientists, in particular human physiologists. Rodolfo Margaria (1901–1983), director of the Institute of Human Physiology at the University of Milan, was one of the most eminent and focused his studies on the mechanics of human locomotion in subgravity, in particular on the Moon’s surface. Long before the real Moon landing, Margaria was able to correctly theorize how astronauts would walk on lunar soil, what would be the optimal pattern of progression, as well as determine the optimum and maximum speed at one-sixth of the Earth's gravity. On 21st July 1969 at 02:56 UTC, great excitement was aroused by the television images of Neil Armstrong's first steps on the Moon. Instead of walking, he moved around making small leaps, as expected from Margaria and colleagues.Grasso GS, Beretta EP, Miserocchi GA, Riva MA. Rodolfo Margaria and the first walk on the Moon. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2019; 90(11):982–985.