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National Aeronautics and -
Space Administration EFLLLR uy VES NASA
Ames Research Center wy

Moffett Field, California 94035

JUN 27' 1383

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LX: 239-11 June 21, 1983

Dr. Joshua Lederberg
President

The Rockefeller University
1238 York Avenue

New York, NY 169821

Dear Dr. Lederberg:

Twenty five years have passed since you and D.B. Cowie first
suggested in an article in Science (Volume 127, p. 1473, 1958)
that cosmic dust containing organic matter formed in stars and
interstellar clouds might be found on the Moon. As it turned
out, most of the hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen and methane on the
Moon's surface does appear to have originated in a star; their
presence in lunar soils is the result of ion implantation by the
solar wind.

During these years complex organic compounds have been discovered
in interstellar clouds, and understanding of both star formation
within these clouds and of ejection of matter from stars into
them has grown out of new astronomical observations and theory.
Moreover, the study of meteorites has revealed isotopic anomalies
in the noble gases, in the rock-forming elements of mineral
phases, and in the biogenic elements (H, C, N) of organic matter.
These anomalies have not been understood in terms of known
processes in the solar system. They are attributable, however,
to origins in stars and interstellar clouds.

Just as you and D.B. Cowie anticipated 25 years ago, there is a
discernable chain of events involving the major elements
essential to life that extends backward in time beyond the
Planetary epoch to their very birth in stars. Elucidation of the
links in this chain is the subject of the enclosed draft report
prepared by the Study Group on the Cosmic History of the Biogenic
Elements and Compounds.

The Study Group brought together for the first time scientists
from diverse disciplines to consider the physical and chemical
pathways taken by the biogenic elements and their compounds from
origins in stars to incorporation in the building blocks of
planets. This report addresses many of the pertinent scientific
issues, and it identifies the opportunities that exist for
fruitful research across many disciplines. As noted in the
Introduction to the report, it "is intended to serve as a
scientific guide both for investigators interested in conducting
research in the cosmic history context and for the Life Sciences
Division of NASA Headqaurters in its development of this new
program component" for Exobiology.

On behalf of the Study Group and its Chairman, John Wood, I am a
pleased to invite you to write a preface for this report. From

the historical perspective of your involvement in NASA's

Exobiology program, and your early insight into this cosmic

history, you seemed to be the most appropriate person to make

this contribution. Your remarks from the viewpoint of a

biologist would provide valuable counterpoint for a report that

has been prepared by physicists, chemists and geologists.

Should you decide to accept this invitation, we would like to wa
have your contribution at Ames Research Center by the end of

August in order to meet publication schedules. I will be

traveling on business until July 27. During my absence, please
contact John Wood at the Harvard-Smithsonian Astrophysical
Observatory, 6@ Garden Street, Cambridge, MA 62138, phone number
(617/495-7278) if you have any questions about the report or your
anticipated preface for it.

With best regards.

Sincerely,

 

Sherwood Chang
Assistant Chief for Science and Technology
Extraterrestrial Research Division

Enclosure:
As described

cc: J. Wood