I just watched a discussion on C-Span about Mars

[Shankapotomus]

94. I would want to see biosphere ships

before bothering to go to Mars. I don't see the point either. The rovers are doing well. We shouldn't waste the money on Mars sending people there. We basically know nothing earth-shattering is there. Biosphere ships could have an actual application down the line. We should put our resources into figuring out how to build mini orbiting "earths" in space. It also seems more exciting to me.

Another thing I'd like to see is the deployment of some kind of high powered laser/radio signal device in space. A beacon that's constantly sending out radio and light signals in all directions to just add an extra chance of being detected.

Of course, I'd like to see more high powered telescopes in space too. Scientists have talked about creating a telescope array that could possibly make out large scale development by intelligent life forms on some of these distant planets they are detecting. If this proves possible we could be watching silent movies millions of years old from across the Universe of neighboring advanced civilizations as they develop their planet and even move out into space long before we've established direct contact.