Dream bigger
Can we not aim for Venus or Jupiter with Curiosity v2.0?
Even if it's pushed back to 2030-2040 and costs 5 times as much, it at least would provide some genuine excitement. It would really capture the public's imagination like nothing on this world (or Mars :)) could.
I know scientifically there would be strong arguments for Mars (again) in 7 years, but we couldn't even begin to imagine the type of info/pictures that would be relayed from a Venus or Jupiter from this type of mission.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
