May 11, 1960

Dr. Robert $. Morison
Biological =nd Medical Research
The Rockefeller Foundation

uc West 45th Street

New York 20, New Yor'

Dear Bob:

f'm not sure that | have done my duty in keeping you informed
of the progress of our work on the planetary microscope. In any
case the procurement of basic equipment has taken most of the time
to date and there would not be much to say. We could not have
gotten started, even this far, without the generous help that the

Foundation gave in its premonitory grant. | thought you would be z
interested to hear that the NASA has finaliy given formal approval o
to support from them in the amount of about $30,000 for direct ms,
expenses during the next year. Unless we have to buy a payload ~.
package ourselves, this should keep us going very well for ths 7
time being. I'm becoming quite intrigued by the possibilities >
of ultraviolet microscopy for other aspects of our cytochemical _
work and they should tie in very well when our ipparcius is

put together. J hope that the Foundation can take pleasure in Ay
its ability to move quickly in a sensitive area where a fairly iy
small amount of funds was quite important. I'm sure that the :

NASA and other agencies can take it from here.

The events of the last week have obviously cast a shadow
on the role of NASA as a civillan agency dedicated to the
peaceful exploration of space for scientific purposes. It
certainly will not help us in our efforts to achieve some kind
of mutual understanding with Russian sclentists on exoblological
problems. | imagine the subject will have to come up at the
next meeting of the Space Science Board. Being rather bewildered
as to the tack, if any, that we might adopt | would be quite agreeable
to hearing whatever ideas you might have on this subject.

Yours sincerely,

Joshua Lederberg