Hacker News actually has a fairly decent discussion of that relentlessly and overpoweringly stupid “Why Not Mars” article. A screenshot of a few of the best comments below:

The reason I accurately called the article “smart people stupid” is that sort of piece is specifically calibrated to sound smart to other people who like to think they are intelligent while containing little that is accurate or justified by any sort of sober look at the reasoning or the numbers (and often, as in the case of that article, the numbers are just made up).

In the end, most humans believe mostly myths and lies most of the time. Smart humans, because they both believe more and know more period, have minds that contain even more myths and lies than people not as cognitively capable (as well as more true thoughts and ideas). The “Mars” article is a good example of how that works and why such claptrap appeals to them.

Everyone is wrong sometimes and most people are wrong most of the time, but I believe people should to maintain dignity at least make an effort to avoid being clown-level wrong. That is my goal and philosophy anyway.