StellarPH Selected for Mars Initiative with NASA Program and Philippine Space Station

StellarPH Selected for Exploratory Mars-Focused Collaboration with NASA Tech Startup Program and Philippine Space Station Initiative

Cebu, Philippines — April 2026

StellarPH, a startup enabler focused on supporting entrepreneurial talent across the Philippines, has been invited to participate in early-stage discussions connected to the NASA Tech Startup Program, under the Pacific Orbital Innovation Program (POIP), in collaboration with the Philippine Space Station Initiative.

As part of this exploratory effort, a small group from StellarPH will be considered for inclusion in a national cohort of startup enablers. The initiative aims to examine how entrepreneurial methodologies and startup-driven approaches can contribute to solving challenges related to long-term human habitation beyond Earth, with a focus on Mars.

The opportunity follows a confidential application process, which StellarPH had been asked to keep undisclosed in recent weeks.

“It was honestly difficult to keep this quiet,” said co-founders Tino Zwirs and Pjotr Steinmetz.
“We’ve known about this for some time now. We’re excited and believe StellarPH can play a meaningful role in both the Philippine space station initiative and the NASA startup program. It’s the kind of incubator environment many builders would want to be part of.”

NASA continues to advance its Mars objectives, targeting the 2030s for initial crewed missions. Ongoing work includes the development of 3D-printed habitats using local materials and long-duration analog missions such as the CHAPEA program in Houston, where crews simulate extended stays in Mars-like environments.

In parallel, missions such as Artemis II represent key milestones in re-establishing human spaceflight beyond low Earth orbit, contributing to the broader roadmap toward sustained lunar presence and eventual missions to Mars.

The exploratory collaboration will focus on understanding how small, agile teams can operate effectively under conditions defined by extreme constraints, including resource limitations, isolation, and high-stakes decision-making environments.

As part of the initiative, Pjotr Steinmetz is currently in Hawaii, where Mars-analog environments are often used in space-related research, to take part in initial alignment sessions with selected participants.

Further details regarding the structure and scope of the initiative are expected to be announced in the coming months.

For inquiries and interview requests, please contact:
Pjotr Steinmetz
Founder — StellarPH
pjotr@stellarph.io