If they are just landing the craft, why not fill it to the brim with little robot rovers and such????
They may be just testing for space worthiness over a long trip.
They, ESA and NASA should get together and send supplies and habitats ahead of the astronauts, so they will not have to carry everything with them. A years supply of food, water and building materials foe a prefab hut, and test equipment could all be landed within a mile or so of each other, ready for use when they get there.................