a manned mission to mars is like controlled fusion. Sure, it seems like they get closer every year, but I'll never believe it til I see it.
The goal is there mostly because humans like goals, but otherwise both space exploration and fusion are about the research happening *in the process.* ITER alone brings hundreds of discoveries in physics, materials, design, logistics etc each year, even though its declared goal is delayed by 5 years (but the current schedule of first plasma in 2025 is feasible).
@kravietz sure I'm not saying they aren't worthwhile projects. Even without the pragmatic benefits I think they would be worthy goals. But nuclear fusion has been famously "just a decade or two away" for several decades. I think manned mars missions are going the same way.
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This aspect - what is the project objective - is unfortunately notoriously overlooked or confused by journalists and general public in similar projects. For example, in 2010 there was plenty of hype about DESERTEC that was expected to "power the whole EU" out of PV panels in Sahara. It never happened.
