>Can we please leave it up to Elon Musk whether he wants to go to Mars or not, without presupposing the notion?

He's been pretty open about his plans.

http://www.wired.com/autopia/2012/03/elon-musk-says-ticket-t...

http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2012/03/15/elon_musk...

http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2012/04/11/elon_musk...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/aug/01/elon-musk-s...

http://blogs.wsj.com/venturecapital/2011/04/26/elon-musk-we-...