Corrente

LYNDON B. JOHNSON, TEX., CHAIRMAN
RICHARD B. RUSSELL,

GA. STYLES BRIOGES, N.H,

WARREN G. MAGNUSON, WASH. ALEXANDER WILEY, WIS,
CLINTON P, ANOERSON, N. MEX. MARGARET CHASE SMITH, MAINE

ROBERT 8. KERR, OKLA. THOS. KE. MARTIN, 1OWA
STUART SYMINGTON, MO. CLIFFORD P. CASE, NJ. 2 o .
JOHN STENNIS, MISS.
Jor STN IES (nifed States Senate
THOMAS J. DODD, CONN.
HOWARD W, CANNON, NEV, COMMITTEE ON

KENNETH £. BELIEU, STAFF DIRECTOR AERONAUTICAL AND SPACE SCIENCES

August 26, 1960

Dear Professor Lederberg:

I appreciated receiving your recent letter commenting on
the staff report of the Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences
entitled "Space Research in the Life Sciences."

The report, as you indicate, has been interpreted in some
quarters as a criticism of the National Aeronautics and Space Admin-
istration for establishing an Office of Life Science Programs.
Actually the report does not include this criticism but, rather,
cautions that a program of such potential size and significance
should have a "coordinated program execution that utilizes fully all
resources available."'

Other Government agencies have been involved significantly
in life science activities for some time as is evident, for example,
in extensive Department of Defense resources and in National
Science Foundation grant programs. It is inthis regard that the
staff report meets a need in providing information about existing
life science programs and their present or potential relationship
to the Nation's overall space program.

The role of the life sciences in space exploration is indeed
an important one and Iam grateful to you gor discussing various
aspects of it in your letter. Iam always glad to receive informed.
comment about such an important subject.

With kind regards, Iam

 

Professor Joshua Lederberg
Department of Genetics

Stanford University Medical Center
Palo Alto, California