July 18, 1960

Dr. Fred L. Whipple, Director
Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
60 Garden Street

Cambridge 38, Massachusetts

Dear Dr. Whipple:

At @ recent meeting of the Space Science Board, Dr. Friedman
mentioned the work you are doing on the development of a vidicon
telescope for astronomical observations In the ultraviolet. An
ultraviolet sensitive vidicon camera would be of very great use
to our own studies on Instrumentation for the detection of planetary
life. The wave length that would be of the greatest Interest Is
2600 A; as a practical compromise we are content with 2537.

Dr. Friedman mentioned that you have Inspired some work at
Westinghouse on the development of a suitable camera tube. |
would be very grateful to you If you could tell me the status
of this development so that we may possibly be able to take
advantage of it. We have a preliminary grant from NASA to
look ‘nto the ultraviolet microscope and hope in due season
to catalyze an engineering contract to an appropriate organization
In this area. Meanwhile, It might save considerable time and
effort if we could be Informed of parallel constructive efforts.

Yours sincerely,

Joshua Lederberg
Professor of Genetics

CT-D

‘ 7 ‘7 Sa yd (HO