Mars ? Too long, too expensive, too far, and we can't do anything there. If we're planning to settle on Mars, try settling in the moon first. Do some crazy experiments at the moon, as long it doesn't destroy it. http://spiff.rit.edu/classes/phys235/no_moon/no_moon.html http://www.astrobio.net/index.php?option=com_retrospection&task=detail&id=2507 Example, let the world knew how powerful nuclear is, as long it doesn't destroy the moon. Just a thought.