September 28, 1959

Or. George A. DerbyshIre
Space Sclence Board

National Academy of Sclences
2101 Constitution Avenue
Washington 25, D. C.

Greetings:

You may remember some questions came up relating to classified
Air Force Information. Could you and SSB lend a hand to declassIfy
it, or at least to make {[t avallable to the Board
(1) The volume density of microorganisms at high altitudes
(stratosphere) and thelr viabllity In this environment
(2) The average spectral-reflection profile In the Infra-red
as seen from high-flying alrcraft over major types of
terrain: water, desert, forest. From this we could compute
the IR spectrum of the earth as seen by a satellite, which
would be a model for a Martian probe. We should particularly
want to see the spectrum In the 'window'!' ~ 3.3 -- 4.7u /

Yours sincerely,

Joshua Lederberg

P.S.- May | ask you to send SSB-109 direct to Westex distribution
according to attached list?

Thank you.