a long time ago.Save vital projects like the Beidou/GPS and recon/imaging satellites, space activities often are a flag waving money thing and I'm glad that china isn't over-spending on it.

--The yanks definitely had over-spent on the apollo moon project & they couldn't go on after 6 missions.

--The Russ Energia rocket was vey powerful but they gave it up after USSR dissolution.

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The yank space shuttle IMO was a gimmick thing. Using reusable space shuttle as the main payload launching vehicle is only justified on money saving ground but

--The main shuttle rocket engines weren't that reusable. I read they got to be junked after only a few mission firings. Re-usable solid fuel booster is BS bcos most of the cost spent in making&packing the solid fuel.

--The Shuttle rocket is capable of launching 100 tons to LEO but the shuttle craft itself took up 60-70 tons of dead weight. The Shuttle craft was also maintenance heavy.

--Geostationary sats launching was even worse because it can't carry cryogenic( H2/O2)fueled upper stage in the cargo bay out of safety concern. 

Basically that space shuttle thingie wasn't economical for putting payloads to orbit. It only survived on enormous subsidies and NASA  PR