If we really want to conquer space, then start building the technology there, not on the ground.

To go from earth orbit to the moon or Mars or the asteroid belt requires a conceptually different craft than something that lifts you off from earth.   By that I mean there is no consideration in the design of those spacecraft for  taking off or landing because the sole purpose should be going point to point in space carrying a lot.of cargo, passengers or both .   And it should be intended to repeat that over and over rather than being for a single use.

Because such a craft isn't designed to take off or land, it needs to be built in space.  That is where the planned private space stations should be directing their efforts, on manufacturing the spacecrafts that will be the workhorses of space exploration. 

It may take many years before we develop single stage to orbit and back vehicles, but point to point in space is well within our grasp today.  And those spaceships will give us the entire solar system.

They will take colonists and supplies to Mars and prospectors to the asteroid belt.  They will bring back raw materials from the asteroid belt to build more ships in orbit and to supply industries on earth and the moon and the colonists on Mars.

That is how we truly become an interplanetary species, by building the spacecrafts that can become the trucks and busses of space.