Sacramento L5 Society Meeting Minutes

Saturday, September 12, 2026  |  Zoom  |  Draft for review

Attendees shown in meeting screenshots: Joseph Bland, Ed Kulis, Jen Blank, Eric James, Arlene Busby, Michael Abramson, Robin Scott, and Jan Roston. Attendance varied during the meeting.

SpaceTalk

Dr. Jen Blank presented “The NASA BRAILLE Project: Preparing for a Robotic Mission to a Martian Lava Tube.” She described astrobiology research and robot field tests in lava tubes at Lava Beds National Monument, including mapping, microbial features, and coordinated exploration by two robots. Discussion covered access to lunar and Martian tubes, their possible use as sheltered habitats, and the engineering challenges of exploring them.

Treasurer and funding

Joseph Bland reported that the chapter’s financial position was substantially unchanged, with approximately $12,000 available. He presented a request to support NSS’s Global Space Debates program. Members asked how a contribution would be used and discussed inviting a program representative to explain the work. The chapter deferred any donation decision pending more information; no expenditure was approved.

Bland reported that the chapter was still awaiting a response from the California Franchise Tax Board on its filing and related banking issues.

Chapter activity and outreach

Jan Roston was traveling and had no Chapters’ Assembly report. Ed Kulis said he would attend the upcoming Assembly meeting. Kulis reported 1,221 website visits during the preceding month and proposed expanding SpaceTalk invitations to other NSS chapters. Joseph Bland agreed to prepare a talk on his thermodynamic engine work for the November meeting, subject to providing a title, image, and description. Kulis will seek an October speaker and can present “Beyond ChatGPT: Ender’s Game” if needed.

The group discussed a proposed one-minute promotional video about chapter activities for the Chapters’ Assembly. Bland undertook to assemble a draft montage. Kulis reviewed a proposal for a separate, transferable Mailchimp owner account using Proton Mail; the meeting recorded no approval or implementation decision.

Artificial intelligence paper

The group reviewed Michael Abramson’s paper on artificial superintelligence and humanity’s future in space. With no objection voiced, the chair treated the paper as approved for publication, subject to the title and layout changes discussed. Possible outlets included the SacL5 website, the Chapters’ Assembly and Chapter Committee, NSS Downlink, and eventually Ad Astra. Bland agreed to contact Perri Doutre and Prathmesh about placing the paper before the Chapters’ Assembly; Abramson would provide a clean PDF.

Project updates

The Open Space Organization white paper was placed on hold. Kulis demonstrated progress on the Arduino MiniCube, including component tests and a battery-powered Nano assembly, and noted that a printed circuit board may follow. Bland reported sending $400 for six Arduino kits to Lalitha Murali and said he would submit the invoice for reimbursement and follow up on their use. Eric James reported little recent progress on the Mercer scale model. Paul Turner was absent, so the balloon flight and related contacts were not updated.

Follow-up actions

Joseph Bland: Seek details from Global Space Debates before returning any donation proposal; draft the one-minute chapter video; contact Perri Doutre and Prathmesh about the AI paper and video; send the Arduino kit invoice and follow up with Lalitha Murali; contact Paul Turner about balloon progress; share “Claim Jumper” for possible website publication.

Ed Kulis: Attend the upcoming Chapters’ Assembly; seek an October SpaceTalk speaker and schedule Bland’s proposed November talk after receiving its details.

Michael Abramson: Provide a clean PDF of the revised AI paper.

The meeting closed after further informal discussion.

Ajourned at 755pm PT