NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20546

 

OFFICE OF THE ADMINISTRATOR

APR 16 1969

Dr. Joshua Lederberg
Department of Genetics
School of Medicine

Stanford University

Palo Alto, California 94304

Dear Dr. Lederberg:

Although currently we are having some difficulty funding
the kind of space bioscience program that we feel the
nation should have, we are nevertheless attempting to
develop a long range plan that can be used to put our
space bioscience program on a sound basis and will lead to
getting the best returns we can from our investment in the
program. To this end, the Office of Space Science and
Applications has assembled a set of goals and objectives for
space biology, a copy of which is attached. If you could
Spare the time, I would very much appreciate having from
you your frank views and comments on the appropriateness
and adequacy of these goals and objectives as a starting
point for NASA's long range planning.

VIAMNAIN

In particular, is the stated position of value appropriate?
Is it achievable within the next one or two decades, assuming
a reasonable application of resources? Is it too optimistic?
Or is it just plain not achievable? Is there perhaps some
other position of value that is more appropriate to state

as the motivation for our space biology program?

Are the stated objectives the right ones on which to base a
national space biology program? Are the objectives oriented
toward the right questions and are they sufficiently aggressive
to take advantage of our capability to advance in this area?
Are there any gaps that should be filled in?
With regard to the last question, it should be emphasized
that exobiology is included elsewhere in our planning.

Under space biology we include the use of space for
fundamental research into the fundamental nature and
processes of life using the space environment and techniques
for whatever advantage they can give us.

Any assistance you can give us in fixing upon the best set
of goals and objectives for planning our national space
biology program will be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely yours,

Nowra Weel

Homer E. Newell
Associate Administrator

Attachment:
April 1, 1969 Space Biology report