Pioneer Labs says its Mars work is too early for a for-profit model

Pioneer Labs says it operates as a nonprofit because its work is at an early stage. Separately, it says there is currently no customer on Mars.

The organization says the technology is maturing and more people have begun working in the field over the past couple of years. It also points to increased space activity and launch capacity as factors strengthening the case for Mars research. A future customer might need a safer environment outside or food, water and oxygen for an initial contained human mission. If the technology keeps advancing at its current rate, Pioneer Labs may be able to begin executing the project in a few years.