One of the things that Dennis Tito emphasized at the conference is that this is not a commercial mission.

FORBES: Dennis Tito's 2018 Mars Flyby Is On The 'Ragged Edge Of Feasibility'

Private outfits like Inspiration Mars backed by NASA engineer-turned-space tourist Dennis Tito are seeking volunteers for a Mars flight.

NPR: Astronauts Face Radiation Threat On Long Mars Trip

Shuttleworth's dream of space travel gained momentum last year when California equity fund manager Dennis Tito became the first tourist in space.

CNN: First African in space boards ISS

Billionaires and near-billionaires Mark Shuttleworth, Dennis Tito, Anoush Ansari and Simonyi have already taken advantage of the infrastructure built by fallen superpower Soviet Union to hitch a ride to the International Space Station.

FORBES: Billionaires In Space

The billion-dollar project is the brainchild of Dennis Tito (he of ISS space-tourism fame), and is seeking private and charitable funding in time to make the proposed launch window -- opening on January 5, 2018.

ENGADGET: Alt-week 3.2.13: A mission to Mars, robosparrow and facial recognition in fertility treatment

Last year, the world's first space tourist, Dennis Tito, made a plea to Congress that as a potential investor in suborbital craft he was not looking to government for funding, technology, tax credits or loan guarantees.

ECONOMIST: Lift-off for enterprise | The

Dennis Tito is planning an ambitious private flyby of Mars for 2018 that will carry all kinds of logistical challenges during its proposed 501-day span, not the least of which is shielding the crew from radiation without consuming valuable resources.

ENGADGET

As far as the rest of humanity goes, ever since the persistent Dennis Tito secured his place as the first tourist in space, he has become a rallying point for enthusiasts trying to get access to space for a broader (ie, poorer) range of customers.

ECONOMIST: Space tourism