The argument here is, at least in part, that achieving it on Earth would likely increase the chances of succeeding on Mars. To rule that out on the basis that o

The argument here is, at least in part, that achieving it on Earth would likely increase the chances of succeeding on Mars. To rule that out on the basis that one's goal is to colonize another planet (as opposed to, for example, showing that achieving it on Earth would not help with the ultimate goal) is a way to avoid considering that argument, not a refutation of it.