Merch 29, 1960

Mr. George A. Derbyshire
Space Science Soard

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

Dear George:
Concerning the functions and objectives of the Blology Committee

Keffer will doubtless be replying to Peavey's letter with regard
to the biology picture as a whole, and in fact, you have our summary
of the lest meeting with specific recommendations along the lines
requested in his letter.

With particular reference to exoblology:

1) Principle functions and objectives. To insure the continued
development and realization of a sound program for the investigation
of the development of life beyond the earth.

2) To discourage trivial and sensationallzed projects which may
have negligible scientific value but may be forwarded under the color
of scientific investigation.

3) To maintain a constant critical review of sclentific objectives
In exoblology and of the methodology for achieving them.

4) To evaluate the possible hazards resulting from the inter-
planetary transport of biological material.

5) To inform ourselves and our colleagues of the possibilities
of exobiological research and to encourage imaginative thinking and
experimental execution of relevant programs.

6) To further discussion at a scientific level among American,
USSR, and other biologists of their over-all scientific objectives
and methods.

7) To press withIn our own Administration for continued attention
to the needs of exobiological research in proportion to their long-range
~2e

significance notwithstanding the current novelty and conceptual
difficulty of this discIpline.

immediate future tasks:

1) To respond to the current request for outlining a detailed
ten and twenty year program.

2) To establish a more coherent position on the question of the
back-contamination of the earth.

2) To review currently proposed experimental approaches to
exobiology.

4) To establish a good working Ifalson with the NASA Executive.

5) To establish effective communication with our colleagues
overseas.

Recommendations for additions or modification to the present
committee membership. Dr. Hartline will be communicating our general
proposals for blology as a whole. For the consideration of exoblology,
the Westex group has proved to be a relatively effective arrangement,
the regional proximity of its members having made possible a more
coherent effort than might otherwise have been the case. We would
not discourage the establishment of some additional regione! groups
along similar lines if points of leadership for them can be established.
However, the Westex Committee Is in quite close communication with
our colleagues throughout the country and there may be no compelling
need for other formal groupings provided we have the implicit approval
of inviting ad hoc members to sit in on our meetings from time to time
as In fact we have done in the past. In addition, Or. Francis from
Ann Arbor has been invited to sit with this committee and Or. Luria
from M.1.T., already a member of Bruno Rossi's committee, will be
invited to do likewise. It may be quite appropriate to ask Francis
and Luria whether they see a need to establish additional committees
under their own leadership.

An organizational problem that will have to be settled in due course
concerns the overlapping responsibilities of the Space Science Board and
of the NRC-Armed Services Committee on Bloastronautics. Panel 11 of that
committee, under the chairmanship of Or. Calvin, is likewise devoted to
the problem of extraterrestrial life. | believe that the continued function-
ing of this panel and of the Bioastronautics Committee can be quite useful
for its lialson with the Armed Services and Or. Calvin and Or. Seeley
have already been quite helpful in furnishing such a channel. In addition
it is impossible t® predict what the future directions of military
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missions in space research will be. The mandate of the Bioastronautics
Committee seems, quite clearly, to have been to advise the Armed Services
primarily with respect to projects that would concern military missions
and the support of manned space flight. Provided that the Bloastronautics
Committee fulfills that mandate, they can continue to serve a useful

and indispensable function which for various reasons, including security,
might just as well not be vested in the Space Science Board. A
consideration of exobloloyy Is certainly necessary as one of the

supports in fulfilling that mandate. 1! belleve that the Board should
endorse the continued operation of the Bioastronautics Committee within
these explicit terms of reference. | believe also that the Exobiology
Committee and Panel Il of the Bioastronautics Committee can continue

to be of great mutual assistance in fulfilling their respective
obligations end that the present de facto interlocking of membership

Is highly desirable as far as it now goes.

Yours sincerely,

Joshua Lederberg