I see Mars as our "first convenient UAT". If we can make this work (get people to create a settlement and live there for 1-2-5-10 years), then we can identify a

I see Mars as our "first convenient UAT". If we can make this work (get people to create a settlement and live there for 1-2-5-10 years), then we can identify and study the requirements and impact, and probably repeat the process to the next planet further out. First you get to feel comfortable with lifting 20kg before you move to 30kg, 50kg, etc. improve your wrist angles, how you spread your toes on the groun, etc. Mars is our 20kg. We take it for a spin, iron out the wrinkles, repeat it perfectly, then move to the next target. Meanwhile we 'studied' Mars for 'so long' that we know there are very few things that can surprise/wipe the effort with e.g. a single volcanic erruption/earthquake/mega-storm.