I understand wanting to work with what's familiar, but I feel like there are better ways of going about it than using 60's tech and trying to get to Mars. I think the real problem is the lack of freedom for NASA's budget allocation. Take the Apollo Era for example. Of course we will probably never see that tier of public support again and therefore never that level of budget again, but the point still stands. We (Or rather Kennedy) gave them a goal: set foot on the moon by the end of the decade. And they did it. No one had to tell them how to use their money or what parts to use, if you give NASA something, they'll do it and under budget. So if we let NASA do it's job of sending stuff to space, we'll see them have more success. Don't ever let politicians do the work of a scientist