ROCK ON!
Probably not a new idea but I've always thought that a good shakedown cruise for Mars bound transit hardware would be a relatively short excursion to a NEO.
Obviously the landing equipment and orbital insertion would be markedly different but it essentially would be a good test of the cruise phase ship and procedures.
Not to mention the fact it would be a headline grabber and a clear indication of progress to keep hatchet happy politicians at bay.
Oh yea, science too.
Kinda like an Apollo 8 mission for Mars, kinda....
Preaching to the choir....
et