Yes, but wouldn't the more logical step be to learn how to live autonomously, or nearly so, on the moon first? Your boat ride is shorter, your resources and help are closer. Once you've cut your teeth so to speak on the moon, it's another big, but much smaller step to take that knowledge and apply it to living on Mars.

Visiting Mars, Exploring Mars, those are still options in the short term while we play house on the moon, but going, looking around, and coming home is very different from trying to live there with or without a lifeline to Earth. Given the politics involved in a major space program I wouldn't want to bet my survival on the continued support of anyone, public or private.

CO2 is not an organic molecule.

"Organic molecules are molecules that are made of carbon and hydrogen, and can include other elements. Organic molecules must contain carbon atoms covalently bonded to hydrogen atoms (C-H bonds)."

You are all missing the point.

The exclusive purpose of SpaceX is to put Elon on Mars and keep him there (alive if possible). If there is any other tangential activity it is only because it serves that purpose. What NASA wants or how Artemis benefits, or anything else, is only included because it furthers SpaceX’ one and only goal.

Is it theological? Maybe. If so it is and has always been Elon’s theology. He has stated clearly the reason he wants to establish a permanent civilization on Mars. That’s the purpose of Starship, that’s the prime directive of SpaceX. Everything else that they do is in some way supportive of that goal. Starship was not made to go to the moon, but that activity provides funding for development of the spacecraft that will take Elon to Mars. Starlink wasn’t made because the broadband at Elon’s house sucks, it’s to generate revenue to fund the development of the spacecraft that will take Elon to Mars.

This isn’t about NASA or us, it’s about the vision, crazy or not, of one man who has the money to maybe make his dream of living on another planet a reality.

The goal of SpaceX is to make life multiplanetary. The belief is that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not.