Well, I am thinking creating a vehicle and atomosphere to do science anywhere in the solar system that is reusable not just a extended camping trip ... geez what a waste that would be! I don't want Mars program to be another apollo failure take the time to do it right and end up with something truly useful that can be used to explore the solar system.
Remember the goal is to do science not just go there and leave behind some junk that'll surely get destroyed by Mars weathering anyways. Yes, the rovers been on Mars for a time but they are small and low to ground and I don't know if they have encountered and survived storms.
Why create what I suggested?
1.can be reused to travel anywhere in the solar system for very long extended periods of time and large enough to have space for real labs to conduct scientific study instead of having to weight untiil one returns to earth.
2.large number of people is for psychological reasons;
2A.a mission with 2 spocks and 2 scotties is not going to lead to any great discoveries and thus a waste of time.
2B.people will surely get injured exploring and you need facilities to cure them thus, you need doctors and enough such that if a few die some are left.
2C.provide enough people for a variety of socializations among the various ethnicities that are likely to occupy station.
3.Why gravity generator? This is a no brainer, animal physiology evolved under gravity; you'll need it even if you planned to halplessly drift to Mars in a tin can. Being able to create it for long duration missions is paramount; mission to jupitor or even pluto!
4.Why skin tight space suites, see http://www.physorg.com/news10683.html" , because you can't explore in those bulky cumbersome suites NASA uses and you'll not need them when exploring on surfaces of most celestial bodies. MITs solution gives scientists freedom and mobility needed to effectively conduct scientific field work.
5.Why the need to generator your own water? Hehehehe, another no brainer;
5A.Well, water is basic necessity of life.
5B.Can't work well if one doesn't feel good especially on long duration missions.
5C.It can be done so why not?
6.Space Elevator? Well, because falling to Mars is dangerous. A space elevator can slowly and but steadily lower people, supplies and equipment to surface.
7.GPS is needed so it is easy to find different places of interest quickly. redoplayable so it can be recovered and reused in other deep space missions.
8.poor sleeping habits in long duration space missions will surely lead to murder -- it's human nature to become mentally disabled with lack of sleep I dare you to find a human that can for your 2 year martian mission. All this will help provide a comfortable environment most can adjust too.
Other essential stuff I left out.
1.Need to fabricate parts from materials found in space using nano frabrication; the theoretical diamonoid type fabricator looks promising.
2.doppler system for Mars and other celesetial bodies with weather system. It is helpful to know when a mighty martian storm is headed near by so one has adquate time to take cover to not have this is a Lunacy Program not a Deep Space Science Program.
3.Structures that can widthstand fierce winds and storms of mars. Todate a NASA space structure will be ripped to shreads or tossed around the storm like a rag doll.
4.Clean living and work environment on station. No noise and no horrible smells. as is with IIS.
5.Filter out radition that causes one to see flashes and disturb their sleep.
6.little clubs where ppl can give little shows or plays --- why not? the size of the station I proposed will be very large and accommodating. -- Remember -- best science is done when one feels good and in heathy environment.
Again I reiterrate, if this sounds too fantastical then you should not be planning deep space missions because I fear current plans are nothing more than a one way trip to a grave yard.