Nonprofit space exploration group needs NASA support for private mission to Mars

The Inspiration Mars project, which is led by multimillionaire Dennis Tito, wants to partner with NASA in order to use the space-agency’s equipment and expertise as well as a bit of federal money to get off the launch pad by early January 2018.

A nonprofit space exploration group revealed today (Nov. 20) exactly how it plans to launch two married astronauts on an ambitious manned flyby mission to the Red Planet by early 2018, a scenario that would involve NASA and federal funding along with a healthy dose of the pioneering spirit.