Sure, let's make a list: * Russia built a rocket that almost put its enormous core stage in orbit -- Energia -- but were careful that it didn't. 2 launches tot

Sure, let's make a list: * Russia built a rocket that almost put its enormous core stage in orbit -- Energia -- but were careful that it didn't. 2 launches total. * The Space Shuttle was careful to not put its enormous external tank into orbit. 100+ launches. It's one thing to lose control of a space station before it re-enters, numerous countries have had that happen. It's another to design a launch system that's intended to have a large thing re-enter uncontrolled. Russia? Never. US? Never.