Human landing on Mars

[Xiao li]

Launch a lander carrying robots and rocket parts. The robot will assemble the rocket and use Martian resources to provide energy. It will be launched into a transfer orbit to meet with the manned lander launched from Earth and land on Mars. After the lander takes off, it will dock with the rocket and return to Earth.

 

[rustythebailiff]

Agreed. A lot of questions can be answered before sending a human crew. Can plants grow in the Martian regolith? Is there water and can it be obtained in sufficient quantities? Can we build habitats using regolith? And many others.
It's a shame the NERVA project was cancelled. We could have had nuclear engines in the 1980s and been travelling to Mars decades ago.