Mars Institute
Mars Institute is a non-profit research organization operating the Haughton-Mars Project Research Station on Devon Island, the world's largest privately operated polar analog research facility. It serves NASA, the Canadian Space Agency, aerospace industry partners, and global STEM students through field science, technology testing, and planetary exploration education programs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersMoffett Field, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Mars Institute does
Mars Institute is an international, non-governmental, non-profit research organization founded in 1997 and headquartered at NASA Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California, with regional offices in Stavanger, Norway and at the Haughton-Mars Project Research Station on Devon Island, Nunavut, Canada. The organization is dedicated to advancing the scientific study, exploration, and public understanding of Mars, with a particular focus on preparing for future human exploration of Mars and the Moon.
Its core operational asset is the Haughton-Mars Project (HMP), a multidisciplinary planetary analog field research project centered on the Haughton impact crater on Devon Island in the High Arctic. The Institute operates the Haughton-Mars Project Research Station (HMPRS), which it describes as the world's largest privately operated polar research station and the only one dedicated to planetary analog science. The station includes modular field tents, the Arthur Clarke Mars Greenhouse, the HMP airstrip, and a specialized mobility fleet comprising two modified Humvees (HMP Okarian and HMP Mars-1) serving as analog pressurized rovers, 12 ATVs, a side-by-side utility vehicle, and an amphibious rover. The Institute conducts technology testing partnerships with NASA, SETI Institute, Collins Aerospace, Ntention, and FYBR Solutions covering spacesuit informatics subsystems, human-machine interface smart gloves, and UAV/drone systems.
The Institute is funded through research grants and cooperative agreements (notably NASA Cooperative Agreement NNX14AT27A via the SETI Institute), with additional support from the Canadian Space Agency, the National Space Society, the Club For the Future, and corporate technology partners. It generates no commercial product revenue; instead it distributes outputs through scientific publications, peer-reviewed journals, documentary films such as 'Passage to Mars', and educational programs including the HMP Apollo Fellowship, MI-GRIP, Viking Internship, and Student Chapters. Primary beneficiaries are government space agencies, academic researchers, aerospace industry partners seeking analog testing environments, and STEM education audiences worldwide.
Mars Institute firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Mars Institute
- Legal name
- Mars Institute
- Website
- https://marsinstitute.no
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Mars Institute is a non-profit research organization operating the Haughton-Mars Project Research Station on Devon Island, the world's largest privately operated polar analog research facility. It serves NASA, the Canadian Space Agency, aerospace industry partners, and global STEM students through field science, technology testing, and planetary exploration education programs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Mars Institute industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Planetary Science Research
- NAICS
- Space Research and Technology (92711)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Space & Astronomy Programs (EDAMABAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Faculty-Led & Research/Field Study Expeditions (THAKAGAK), Satellite Imagery & Remote Sensing Geospatial Platforms (BPAMANAM)
Keywords
Where Mars Institute is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Moffett Field
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Mars Institute business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Research Grants and Funding: Primary revenue stream from grants and funding support from government space agencies (NASA, Canadian Space Agency), foundations (National Space Society, Club For the Future), and corporate partnerships. The organization is a non-profit research institute.
- Educational Program Sponsorships: Support for student internship programs (Viking Internship, MI-GRIP, HMP Apollo Fellowship) from the Space & Energy network and other partners. Funds cover student participation in research activities.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Mars Institute product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Mars Institute is a non-profit research organization that operates the Haughton-Mars Project (HMP) on Devon Island in the High Arctic—the world's largest privately operated polar research station—serving as a leading planetary analog for Moon and Mars science. It conducts multidisciplinary field research, tests exploration technologies such as spacesuits, pressurized rovers, and UAVs, and runs student fellowships and internships (HMP Apollo Fellowship, MI-GRIP, Viking Internship) plus public outreach content such as the documentary Passage to Mars.
Product overview
The Mars Institute is a non-profit research organization dedicated to advancing Mars science and exploration. Its core offering is the Haughton-Mars Project (HMP), an international planetary analog field research project centered on Devon Island in the High Arctic. The HMP operates the Haughton-Mars Project Research Station (HMPRS) as its base camp, which includes specialized facilities like the Arthur Clarke Mars Greenhouse and field vehicles (HMP Mars-1 and HMP Okarian analog pressurized rovers). The institute complements its research with educational programs including the HMP Apollo Fellowship Program, MI-GRIP internship, Viking Internship, and Student Chapters that engage students worldwide in planetary science. Public outreach offerings include the documentary film Passage to Mars and the educational teaching guide Mission: Mars. The organization focuses on planetary analog research, spacesuit technologies, drone/UAV applications, and preparing technologies and personnel for future Moon and Mars exploration.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Haughton-Mars Project (HMP): Leading international multidisciplinary planetary analog field research project aimed at advancing Moon and Mars science and exploration, centered on Devon Island, High Arctic.
- HMP Apollo Fellowship Program
- MI-GRIP (Mars Institute Global Research Internship Program)
- Viking Internship
Quantifiable outcome
- Discovery of relict glacier near Mars' equator at Eastern Noctis Labyrinthus (7° 33' S, 93° 14' W), implying presence of water ice at low latitudes on Mars
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Mars Institute
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Mars Institute technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Mars Institute partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- Collins AerospacecoreCollaborating organization in spacesuit technology development and testing. Partner since 2000 (originally Hamilton Sundstrand, then United Technologies Aerospace Systems). Collins provides advanced spacesuit concepts for analog testing at HMP, including the IT IS (Information Technologies and Informatics Subsystem).
- GooglemajorEducation and public outreach partnership. Google participated in HMP-2018 field campaign collecting Street View imagery for Google Earth and Maps. Released documentary short 'Mars On Earth: A Visit to Devon Island' shot on Google Pixel 3. Created Google Earth guided tour of Devon Island.
- NtentionmajorNorwegian deep tech start-up from NTNU developing the Astronaut Smart Glove - a human-machine interface for spacesuits allowing astronauts to control robotic assets via hand gestures. Field tested at HMP and integrated with Collins Aerospace spacesuit.
- FYBR Solutions Inc.majorVancouver-based company specializing in high-resolution geospatial data and drone technology. Partnership for UAV/drone research and development for Mars exploration applications. Provides 5 cm resolution geospatial mapping and 3D modeling of HMP Research Station site.
- NASAcoreNASA has supported the Haughton-Mars Project since 1997 under various agreements. Currently supported by NASA under Cooperative Agreement NNX14AT27A with the SETI Institute. NASA HMP helps plan future human missions to Mars and provides primary funding and institutional support.
- SETI InstitutecoreLong-term strategic partner in planetary science research and NASA HMP operations. Pascal Lee serves as planetary scientist at both organizations. NASA cooperative agreement is with SETI Institute. Deep collaboration on research projects, publications, and educational programs.
- Canadian Space AgencymajorGovernment space agency partner providing research support. Canadian-based researchers can apply for support through Natural Resources Canada's Polar Continental Shelf Project for work at HMP.
- Space & Energy Innovation NetworkmajorNorwegian innovation network partnering with Mars Institute for student internship programs. Supports collaboration between space and energy sectors to foster innovative partnerships and create new business opportunities.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Mars Institute competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- SETI Institute: The Mars Institute's deepest strategic partner—co-administers NASA's HMP cooperative agreement and shares Founder Dr. Pascal Lee as a planetary scientist. Both are non-profit research organizations focused on space science and astrobiology, with overlapping leadership and research programs, making it the most directly comparable peer.
- The Planetary Society: The world's largest non-profit space advocacy and science organization, also focused on planetary exploration, public engagement, and supporting space science. Comparable as a non-profit space science organization with global reach and educational mission, though focused more on advocacy and less on field analog research.
- The Mars Society: The Mars Society operates the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) in Utah, another leading Mars analog facility, and shares Mars Institute's mission of advancing Mars science, exploration, and public understanding. Both are non-profits running field research stations and engaging volunteers and students.
- Universities Space Research Association (USRA): A non-profit research corporation operating NASA-affiliated institutes and laboratories conducting space and aeronautics research with university collaborators. Directly comparable as a non-profit, university-affiliated space research organization that supports planetary science and exploration through government partnerships.
- Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI): A non-profit research institute operated by USRA that supports NASA planetary science through conferences (e.g., Lunar and Planetary Science Conference—where Mars Institute announced the 2023 relict glacier discovery), research, and community programs. Directly comparable non-profit planetary science organization.
Emerging players
- Space Frontier Foundation: A non-profit space advocacy organization promoting commercial space development and human space settlement. Comparable in non-profit space sector positioning but more focused on policy/advocacy than field research.
- Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems (PISCES): A Hawaii-based non-profit analog research organization conducting planetary surface systems testing in volcanic terrain. Comparable as an analog testing facility for space exploration technologies, though smaller and operating in a different analog environment (lava vs. polar desert).
Broad incumbents
- Collins Aerospace: Major aerospace prime and longtime Mars Institute partner since 2000 (originally Hamilton Sundstrand), providing spacesuit technologies for analog testing. Comparable as a technology developer in the space exploration domain with deep involvement in human spaceflight systems.
- NASA: The U.S. government space agency and Mars Institute's primary funder/partner. Not a direct competitor but the broad incumbent shaping the entire space exploration ecosystem in which Mars Institute operates; comparable as a planetary science organization with field research capabilities.
Others
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Mars Institute social profiles
Digital presenceMars Institute financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Mars Institute leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Mars Institute funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Mars Institute M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about Mars Institute
What does Mars Institute do?
The Mars Institute is a non-profit research organization that operates the Haughton-Mars Project (HMP) on Devon Island in the High Arctic—the world's largest privately operated polar research station—serving as a leading planetary analog for Moon and Mars science. It conducts multidisciplinary field research, tests exploration technologies such as spacesuits, pressurized rovers, and UAVs, and runs student fellowships and internships (HMP Apollo Fellowship, MI-GRIP, Viking Internship) plus public outreach content such as the documentary Passage to Mars.
Is Mars Institute a public or private company?
Mars Institute is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Mars Institute founded?
Mars Institute was founded in 1997. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Mars Institute based?
Mars Institute is headquartered in Moffett Field, United States, in the North America region.
How does Mars Institute make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Research Grants and Funding is the primary driver. The others are educational Program Sponsorships.
Who are Mars Institute's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SETI Institute, The Planetary Society, The Mars Society, Universities Space Research Association (USRA) and Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI). Emerging players are Space Frontier Foundation and Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems (PISCES). Broad incumbents are Collins Aerospace and NASA. SpaceX is listed as an others.
Does Mars Institute have an API?
No public API is recorded for Mars Institute.
What industry is Mars Institute in?
Mars Institute's product category is Planetary Science Research. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMABAE, Space & Astronomy Programs, with a secondary code of THAKAGAK, Faculty-Led & Research/Field Study Expeditions. Its NAICS code is 92711 and its SIC code is 8731.