REPLY TO
ATTN OF:

JAN & ‘PA

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
LYNDON B. JOHNSON SPACE CENTER
HousTon, TEXAS 77058

DF JAN 3 1975

Professor Joshua Lederburg
Department of Genetics
Stanford Universi ty
Stanford, CA 94305

Dear Professor Lederburg:

Enclosed is a draft report which I have submitted to the NASA "Outlook
For Space" study group. It is intended to survey the possibilities and
estimate the benefits of life sciences research and applications carried
out in space during the next 25 years.

The table of contents and introduction to the overall report of the
“Harth Oriented Activities" committee of the study group is attached.

It will serve to describe the goals of the study, to put my report into
perspective, and to show that the life sciences may contribute to, or
benefit from, several of the other activities under study, such as agri- _
culture, materials processing and communications.

This report is not a recommended program plan. It is the raw material
from which such a plan might be drawn, and is intended to be inclusive.

The draft is in need of detailed and critical evaluation by experts.

Are the goals listed the right ones? Have any useful avenues of research
been omitted or underemphasized? Have any been included which are not
justified? Is there supporting evidence which has not been alluded to?
Are the conclusions balanced and reasonably realigtic?

I would like to request such an evaluation by you in your own areas of
interest. If any expenditure is likely to be involved, please let me
know. The study group has some funds set aside for remunerating con-
sultants. Your comments and criticisms would be appreciated by early in
February, to permit a thorough and timely revision of the report.

It is possible that this study, in which NASA is investing considerable
time and effort, may end up on a dusty shelf, as many studies do. But
we hope to do better than that, with your help.

Sincerely,

Jofgeph P. Kerwin
Capgain, MC, USN
Chief, Life Sciences Astronaut Office

Enclosure