duly 10, 1959

Or. Detlev W. Bronk, President
Wational Academy of Sclences
2101 Constitution Avenue
Washington 25, D. C.

Dear Or. Bronk:

Thank you for your letter of July 8th referring to my appointment
to the Space Sclence Board. | will be very happy to contribute to this
Important alssion. The only qualification | have to make Is thet the
time | can allocate for travel fs limited by my responsibilities to
Stenford University and to ay own research In the laboratory. While |
strongly hope, of course, that this limitation will not be too serlous
an obstacle, let me state that I} will not be In the least offended If
Or. Berkner or yourself should eventually prefer a more mobile col league.
Having sald this, let me go on to say how very gratified | am that the
problems of planetary blology are beginning to be edequately thought of
es a vital aspect of our national space program. | have been In touch
with a considerable number of my Interested colleagues to discuss these
problems and | would make every effort to represent the points of view
of an estimable part of the sclentific community in the deliberations
of the Board.

Yours sincerely,

Joshua Lederberg
Professor of Genetics