Re: Possibly hobbled by my lack of imagination again...
You know, after fifty years, I know we know better.
I used to question 'the status quoe' to some extent, but after reviewing statements by past HZ-oners, I've come to agree with them.
We have been orbiting Earth for twenty five years and then some by now, we know what it takes to take humans to Mars; do the scooping up; core samples, etc., then bring them back to Earh.
I'm all for testing technology on the Moon, but if you truly love science.... let's go to Mars already.