It was example of relatively small vehicle capable of reaching orbit. Of course for launching it you need a VLS - which is not that much more than a box. Ascend part of mars lander doesn’t need to be self contained - part of mars lander can be left down there and used as launch pad for ascend part - just like lunar lander did.
As for the rest, I refer you to much more informed post by Stranger - which actually pointed out that you are right and making of mars lander at current technological level seems a little too much for humanity.
Can someone explain to me what the use of the Cycler is?
I understand that it can be in a stable orbit between the two, but I don’t understand how it saves any energy. In order for any mass to be sent from one to the other via the cycler, that mass needs to match velocity with it, taking off from a planet. It seems to me that this uses exactly as much energy as would be used to get that mass from one planet to the other without the cycler.
The only benefit I can think of is that the cycler contains infrastructure, like the gym and living areas and nonconsumables, that could be reused. Is that stuff really enough of the weight to justify building two of them?
That’s what I presumed, that it’s pretty much a space station/ motel permanently available for Earth-Mars travelers. IF you’re going to keep sending expeditions to Mars, it’s a substantial savings over the long run. Aside from the supplies you’re bringing, the rendevous vehicle can be a tiny Soyuz type deal. And you could invest once in shielding the cycler heavily enough to solve the radiation problem.
Unless they were implying that the gravity assists can actually add delta-V to the system? So that you can match trajectories with the cycler, and then get a boost so you get from Earth to Mars or vice-versa for less fuel than you would otherwise use?
Shielding shouldn’t be a problem on the surface of Mars. True, Mars’ magnetic field is pathetic, but once you’re on the surface, it shouldn’t be difficult to pile as many meters of soil as you need on top of the habitat.
Which still leaves the problem during travel. You would, of course, time the mission for solar minimum, and you would also keep your water supply lined up aft of your crew compartment. And the dangerous radiation is mostly slower than light, so you’d only need to heavily armor a small bunker area that the astronauts could go to whenever a bad storm broke. Still, it’s a pretty hefty engineering problem.