> So a colony in Mars maybe preserves intelligent life with roots in the human species, but I do not think it will preserve the human species as we know it.

That's sufficient for my desires of making humanity multiplanitary (and eventually spanning multiple solar systems).

I don't desire freezing humanity as it exists today, I desire ensuring the human project continue as long as we can keep it going.

It must be said, though, that Mars is a place where it is easier to freeze humans than not.

That's true! Though in 1,000 years it might not be true.

And in 10,000 years an asteroid could hit earth and create an impact winter on earth that makes it so that Earth is a place where it is easier to freeze humans than not.

Creating a backup for humanity on another planet isn't about the next 500 years. It's about the next 100,000 years.

And creating a backup for humanity in another solar system isn't about the next 100,000 years, it's about the next 100,000,000 years.

In those kinds of timeframe, spending 1,000 years to terraform Mars is pretty quick.

Love this! Exactly!

We're already screwed as far as preserving the human species as we know it, and why would we want to?

Mars is awesome and I can't wait to go, but Earth is a great place to live :)

non of that matters if life on earth is gone which is the primary reason for having a colony in Mars

There's also the reason to explore Mars for new life, minerals, water, scientific breakthroughs, etc.