Wernher Von Braun, Mission to Mars

The Russian attempt seems to be well ahead but some experts doubt if they can do it alone. Most feel it should be a global effort but is that all we want to do, get there?
Wernher Von Braun suggested a large ship carrying a very large crew. Given the conditions on Mars that are even more evident today then his time it would seem a base to work from is very reasonable.
Eventually off world mining and sustainable bases on other worlds will become a necessity even if it`s not essential to just getting to Mars and back.
It would also seem reasonable that if Russia wants to pursue it`s mission it should get the help and support of the rest of the world while at the same time the rest of the world and Russia can focus on what we`ll need next, a large work station. Sustainable life moving farther out into the solar system.
Eventually when we go beyond the solar system in 500 years or more these large work station will be the key over very high speed. It would seem to be more productive to be developing a work station to Mars in conjunction with the first manned mission, together.
First in space, first on the Moon. The number of people that know the answers diminish every year. International law dictates that to annex territory you must occupy it. It hardly seems important who gets there first compared to who occupies it. Certainly Russia is as capable as any to get there, even first, but if all the effort is a race we`ll probably run out of resources and commit to global conflict before we turn the program from a race to occupation.
Participation in a global effort to put large numbers of people and supplies in orbit around Mars should have priority over winning the race.
Perhaps the space elevator (probably to much surface wind) or reliable lifters servicing a surface station might be available by then. Once in place Russian unmanned cargo ships based on their current design would have an even bigger future role than winning the race.

The future of moving freight on and off planet.

http://www.spaceelevator.com/

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