h could be taken before
exposure to reduce the biological effects of radiation.[64] Such a drug,
which is of special interest to astronauts who might be required to
subject themselves to varying belts of radiation, might be of even
greater use in the cause of civil defense.

A final and far-reaching phase of the health side of space exploration
deals with the basic nature of biology itself--how and under what
conditions life grows. Up to now biological science has been largely
"the rationalization of particular facts and we have had all too limited
a basis for the construction and testing of meaningful axioms to support
a theory of life."[65] Through research made possible by the space
program it may be possible to alter this condition. "The dynamics of
celestial bodies, as can be observed from the Earth, is the richest
inspiration for the generalization of our concepts of mass and energy
throughout the universe. The spectra of the stars likewise testify to
the universality of our concepts in chemistry. But biology has lacked
tools of such extension, and life until now has meant only terrestrial
life."[66]

[Illustration: FIGURE 13.--Biological reactions uncovered in
space medicine studies, such as this centrifuge experiment, may lead to
important health discoveries.]

The secrets which this research may divulge and their meaning for human
health can only be imagined. But they certainly would not be minor.

EDUCATION BENEFITS

No enterprise has so stirred human imagination as the reach of man
toward the exploration of space. New worlds to explore. New distances to
travel--3,680 million miles to Pluto, the outermost planet of our solar
system, 8 years journey at 50,000 miles per hour when we attain such a
capability. Innumerable problems ahead. New knowledge needed in almost
every branch of science and technology from magneto fluid dynamics to
cosmology, from materials to biology and psychology.[67]

"New knowledge needed" means better and stronger education is essential.
And not only in the physical sciences. In the social sciences and the
arts as well.

Certainly man's space adventure can help profoundly to make a finer
creature of him, but only if his adventures on Earth can do so as
well. Essentially what this means to a social psychologist is that
we must somehow raise our level of education to the point where
most men most of the time can appreciate and actively absorb the
i