May 23 1965
From The Space Library
The Life Sciences Committee of the National Academy of Sciences' Space Science Board recommended to NASA that American astronauts returning from the moon and planets be kept in quarantine for at least three weeks to prevent possible contamination of the earth by extra-terrestrial organisms, Howard Simons reported in the Washington Post. Recommendation was in a report entitled "Potential Hazards of Back Contamination from the Planets," Other recommendations included the need to avoid decontamination of returning equipment until it had been subjected to biological study; the possible need for the astronauts to shed their outer garments on the moon and Mars before returning home; the need to conduct immediate research on any samples of extraterrestrial life brought to earth; and trial runs to acquaint astronauts with methods for minimizing chance of contamination. (Simons, Wash. Post, 5/23/65)
United Press International had announced it would seek to establish a worldwide satellite communications system, either on its own or in partnership with others, if the governments concerned granted the necessary permission. (NYT, 5/23/65)
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