December 1, 1959

Memorandum for Record

 

From: G. A, Derbyshi

Subject: Telephone Conversation with Homer Newell re NASA's Position
on Decontamination

In a recent letter, Lederberg has raised the following point:

"Also very urgent for the same purpose is an official
clarification of NASA's position on decontamination. So far as
I know there has been no public statement at all and I hardly
know what attribution I can properly make as to the U, S, policy
on this point, I would strongly urge that a public or publishable
statement be available from NASA at least by the time of the
actual meeting, Calvin and I and others will have to look for
explicit guidance on what we can appropriately say,"

As a result, I reached Newell today to determine NASA's position
on the matter, He advises that no public statement concerning sterilization
is planned by NASA, It is NASA's policy to sterilize space probes insofar
as technically feasible and a program aimed at accomplishing this is now
underway, It was his opinion that Lederberg's knowledge of this program
and of NASA's expressed intentions should form the basis of any comments
which he might wish to make at COSPAR, Newell will be glad to discuss the
topic with either Lederberg or Calvin if they so desire but does not plan
to publicize the NASA policy or program,

ec: H, Odishaw
R, C, Peavey

Note to H,O,:

Shall I convey this information to Lederberg and possibly also Calvin?
Please advise,