I really think they should aim a bit closer to home, myself.
The Moon is a far better target, and is a far safer bet.
When you are 50 years rusty, you have to relearn that ground.
Correct. And besides, the Moon has something that could be very useful: a lot of very valuable strategic minerals. Titanium for sure, but also thorium-232 in large quantities (useful for Gen IV molten-salt nuclear reactors).