CHAU2105 This is a large 10" x 8" hand signed 1972 headed paper letter for Cyril Ponnamperuma famous Sri Lankan scientist most notable for his work for NASA (see below). He has personally autographed the souvenir and you will never get a better autograph opportunity for Cyril Ponnamperuma than his official Maryland University Offices headed paper with its original watermarks too, nor will you surely find one as early as 1972 and (bar centrally folded from originally posted which is how I will send) it is otherwise absolutely mint condition.
In 1962, he was honoured with a National Academy of Sciences resident associateship with NASA at Ames Research Center. In 1963 he joined NASA's Exobiology Division and take over the helm of the Chemical Evolution Division. He was selected as the principal investigator for analysis of lunar soil brought to Earth by Project Apollo. Thereafter, he was closely involved with NASA in the Viking and Voyager programmes and was offered membership in both the Space Science Advisory Council and Life Sciences Advisory Council of NASA. According to Arthur C. Clarke, "No other scientist of Sri Lankan origin was internationally known and respected as he was". He produced over 400 scientific publications and held a number of prestigious academic posts during his rather short lifespan.