For our generation, unfortunately true
We're not going to see starships in our lifetime. If our civilization becomes interplanetary then starships will follow as a logical consequence. Relativistic physical limitations driving fuel/structure mass fractions require that starships be enormous (think supertanker in space). It's probably going to require self aware von Neuman machines simply to build something like that.
Unfortunately assuming a self aware von Neuman machine is sort of like assuming I am wearing a pair of ruby slippers. With ruby slippers, interstellar travel is simple. I just close my eyes, click my heals together three times and say, "I wish I was on an planet orbiting Tau Ceti".
Gary