We should allow private companies to bid against NASA in this endeavor. If some private company can show that they can do the same thing for 25% of that money and meet project goals, why should we sink a trillion into NASA doing it? Besides, I think we need a large orbital station or a base on the moon (secondary) first to give us a good starting point outside the atmosphere. I would certainly rather see a base on the moon or a large telescope array on the dark side of the moon than a mission to mars. I should look up at night and see the lights of a city on the surface of the moon twinkle. If I ever make a few hundred billion dollars and Obama doesn't take it from me and give it to the UAW, I'll see to it we can look up at the moon and see city lights.