Unless you think that <new tech> is somehow detrimental to getting to Mars, I don't see what the cynicism gets you. In fact, I've never understood how cynicism helps achieve anything at all.
We'll send humans to Mars when it makes sense, when we can, and when we want to. If we stop wanting to, we'll never go...we'll never even develop the capability.
Mankind spent a long time--hundreds, maybe thousands of years--using boats before we started sailing across oceans. Going to Mars is way more complicated and dangerous, and that's still only the closest planet.
Enthusiasm for plans might create license for NASA to experiment, but lack of enthusiasm would be far worse. There's no lack of other people who would love to spend NASA's money. And even the private sector spaceflight companies are largely dependent on NASA today.
Yes, <new tech> is detrimental. It becomes another hurdle that every subsequent Mars mission has to clear in the debate. "We can't go to Mars, we don't have <new tech> yet!"
We'll send humans to Mars when it makes sense, when we can, and when we want to. If we stop wanting to, we'll never go...we'll never even develop the capability.
Mankind spent a long time--hundreds, maybe thousands of years--using boats before we started sailing across oceans. Going to Mars is way more complicated and dangerous, and that's still only the closest planet.
Enthusiasm for plans might create license for NASA to experiment, but lack of enthusiasm would be far worse. There's no lack of other people who would love to spend NASA's money. And even the private sector spaceflight companies are largely dependent on NASA today.