[PerfectDlite]

> I think it's generally agreed upon that the Space Shuttle program was needlessly wasteful and more PR- than science-driven.

Soviets decided to replicate it. So even if it was PR, it was a good PR - it managed to trick USSR to waste quite an effort.

[mikeash]

Considering that the Buran program was much less active and only had a single launch, the ROI on that wastage seems like it would have been rather low.