We need a permanent presence in space, not a series of one off jaunts. Mars is too far and our technology too limited to colonize. It would just be a flag pl

We need a permanent presence in space, not a series of one off jaunts. Mars is too far and our technology too limited to colonize. It would just be a flag plant. However the moon is within our reach. Spending resources on Mars now will only delay our permanent presence in space. Manned missions to the Moon to set up a colony. Robotics for the rest of the solar system. It's the only way.