t February 1963.

Gr. Allan H. Brawn
Depertment of Botany
University of Minnesote
i RNEAPOL 1S

Beer Allan,

Joel Orien of the Space Sclence Board hes written Josh Lederjerh
shout the possibility of assisting you la the preparation for the Varsew
exoblology meetiag; Josh hes passed the letter on to me.

i have had some previous discussions on the possibilities of such
@ meeting with the Soviet alcroblologist, A.A. imahenetsky, end with
D.Y. Mertynov, Blrector of the Shternberg, Astronomical tastitute, Moscow.
The letter conversation occurred last summer In Lidge, where there was a
kind of rump session on the Warsaw meeting attended by Van der Mulst,
Florkia, Kulper, Elliott Levinthal and aysel fz One polat, which hes
emarged rather clearly from whet discussion | have had with Soviet scientists,
is thet some education Is needed, especially for the Soviet physics! sciantists
end engineers, on the problems of extraterrestrie! life and the possibility
of blologicel contaninetion. imphenetsky was quite concerned about Om
blologicel contauination, expecially of Mars, while Mertynov tendedzto dismiss
the whole question as something cf @ joke. We |s, of course, not @ biologist,
but | think his attitude Is fairly common In the Soviet Unlon.

Loan
ar

mS

VY

imshenetsky even mentioned thet cooporetion between the United States
and the Soviet Union was probably easier than cooporation between Sovist a
blologists end physice!l space scientists. Stace scientifically there is no
difference which nation perforus biological contemination, and since the
Soviet Union eppereatiy hes the capability for e Mars lending vehicle before
the United States, | feel It would be extremely useful to lavite several of
the relevent Soviet astronomers and other physical spece scleatists inval ved
In space exploration to the Varsew meating, and there to have several papers
on the rationsiea and feasibility of space vehicle sterilization. it would
be desirable to schedule a very adequate time for informal discussion. |
know that while, for many of us, @ general discussion of the possibilities of
extraterrestrial life end biological contamination heve been heerd so frequently
that we can repeat them In our sleep, the Soviet astronomers aad other physical
sclentists have not been exposed to such arguments. iacidentally, except
for Gporin, ianhenatsky end perheps one or two others, the oaly scientists
la the Soviet Union who have publ ished on the subject of extraterrestrial
tife have been estroncmers, sad thelc relative contribution has aot been
iacoas tderabl a.

if there Is any assistance which | con give you In this matter,
of any aatere st all, | would be more thee heppy to do se. Begianiag
Februery Sth, wy new address will be:

Sepertment of Astronony,
Merverd Ual versity

Cambridge 36
Massachweetts
With best wishes.
Sincerely,
Cart Sagan
CS/ps
Copies to: Or. R.W. Porter

Or. Joel Grien
Or. Nugh Gdishaw