Mars is a tempting target -- but getting people there and getting people back would be really difficult. I say, explore the place with more and better rovers, even hoppers. (Design a wheel that doesn't get stuck in sand and self-cleaning solar panels, and then you've probably added a lot of longevity, too.) MUCH, much cheaper than sending people. But an asteroid mission -- now that makes sense, and for the reasons delineated in the article:
"Not only would the deep space sojourn shake out hardware, it would also build confidence in long-duration stints at the moon and Mars. At the same time, the trek would sharpen skills to deal with a future space rock found on a collision course with Earth."
Operation Plymouth Rock
My favorite asteroid visited by a flyby satellite:
Ida (and it's little satellite, Dactyl)
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