October 27, 1959

Dr. Hugh Odishew
1145 19th Street, N. W.
Washington 6, BD. C.

Dear Hugh:

it was a pleasure to meet you et the Space Sclence Board and a privilege
to join In its deliberations.

it Is too bad that we could not find time to get together for the
preparatory discussions on the Man-In-Space Program but ! hope something
can be done along these lines In time for the next mesting of the Board.
1 was pleased to find that al! of the Soard members with whom | talked
shared many of the views that Or. Goldberg and ! had expressed briefly
during the meeting. The Board has a deep moral and professional responsibility
for full candor In expressing its views; some additional urgency may be
implicit In the likelihood that an election year will probably bring about
some sharp questioning from Congressional comealttees on al! aspects of the
Space program. in any event | am sure that many members of the Board would
welcome an epportunity to clarify the Board's position on this and related
problems.

There Is ample time to do this In connection with the next meeting
of the Board. Mearwhile I would like to offer a constructive suggestion
for prompt Implementation. During the meeting, Dr. Berkner expressed very
well the point that our space program must rest on three foundations:
the objectives of national prestige, practical applications, and scientific
research, all of which must be used In bullding the space program as
formulated by the National Space Council. |! would suggest that the forth-
coming volume on science In space display a preface written to voice just
this point. The volume Itself will then accentuate the positive accomp! ishments
and aspirations of science In space without overreaching the role of the
Space Sclence Board In criticism of other aspects. That the special role
of the Board concerns space science perhaps deserves some stress. While
these general marks doubtless should go Into a preface at the start of the
book, | would suggest that the history and organizational detalls of space
operations would be more eppropriate as the concluding chapter.

Yours sincerely,

Joshua Lederberg