CABLE ADDRESS: NAREv

Z101 CONSTITUTION AVENUE WASHINGTON, D. c.

WASHINGTON 25, D. Cc.

NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL

OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

SPACE SCIENCE BOARD
17 August 1959

Dy. Thomas Francis, Jr.
Professor end Chairasn
paper tment of Epidemiology
University of igan
ann Asber, Michigan

Dear br. Francis:

I was delighted to learn from Keffer Hartline of your willingness
to serve on his Committee on the Blolegical Aspects of Space Science

of the Space science Board. Both t ine and I have found the
plological aspects of Space science emong the most difficult te
treat. There are an of good comaittees in the field of “man-

space" and related matters, and Dr. Cannon of NAC is coopereting
in making the data from these comaittees aveilable to the Sosrd.
There is, however, s problem in evaluating the diverse work in the
field. More important are three other aspects of the space biology
program: }

&} Biological experimentation unique to space.

b) Contamination of the moon and planets upon lending (and
equally, beck contamination on return, )

¢) Expleretion of extre-terrestrial objects by man, and

biolegical objectives in such exploration.

while extra-terrestrial exploration by man is still a few years
away, the problem of contamination of extra-terrestrial biological
forms from the Earth is iamediate end is receiving attention froa
Leder « Both physicists and plologists are interested in extre-
terrestris] forms and evolutionary patterns involved, so that such
Study is ahead in determining the best precedures in developing
extré-terrestrial exploration.

#ith every good wish,
Sincerely yours,

L. V. Berkner
Chairman
cc Hartline
Pa sshew-Feavey

8
Xederberg
bigned in br, Berkner's ebsence