SEP 211964
DEPARTMENT OF MICROBIOLOGY

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Unwersity of Illinois + 127 Burrill Hall, Urbana, Illinois 4. A. Cf

 

 

September 16, 1964

Dr. Joshua Lederberg
Department of Genetics
Stanford Medical Center
300 Pasteur Drive

Palo Alto

California

Dear Josh,

I have been wondering whether you have given very serious consideration

* to the development of laser telemetry systems. According to John (Atwood),
a gas laser with a 1 meter transmitting telescope would have a beam
diameter of about 50 miles at a distance of 10° miles. This is ca.
1013 times better than 47 transmitters could do. In his opinion, such
instruments, including sufficient pointing devices, could be developed
within two years.

The telemetry problem as it stands now is a real inhibitor of thought
on the Mars program, and a drastic improvement in telemetry might be

v more worthwhile than all the attempts to make experiments feasible with
present means.

(oom Ly

I hope we will have a chance to talk things over in October.

With warm regards,

’
.

\ eh

K. C. Atwood
Professor of Microblology

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