Colonizing Mars is a nice imagination, but maybe we got to think further ahead. We could and we should already be exploring the depths of our own Galaxy, and also beyond. We could already have some type of warp drive or similar post rocket system. Instead we waste so much money on stupid wars and on ridiculous rockets. Yes we have to start somewhere but rockets are not the transport system of a true space faring civilization. We need something better. Humanities survival and advancement depends on permanent colonies in space.