Raoul, people wanting to go to the Moon are try to have their cake and eat it to. They want to use the popularity of Mars missions to make their less attractive boondoggle the primary mission and trying to tell the public that we must return to the Moon to go on to Mars. It is rubbish and in their hearts Moon fans know it is.

There is no logic in spending tens of billions on the Moon testing of Mars equipment to spend hundred of billions on Mars. If you're going to Mars go to Mars not the Moon. Who care what your emotions are. This is billions of dollars that will be thrown down another rat hole. Get a clue!

I suggest everyone read Don's Articlehttp://www.spaceref.com/news/viewnews.html?id=953