In the old Soviet days there was a secret military SpaceShuttle mission for which the launch time was only released about an hour before. When the launch did occur, the roll manuever was nearly 180 degrees, which put the vehicle on a decidedly northern (polar?) trajectory.
Around the same time I recall reading of a military satellite which the (then) Soviets had apparently lost all communication and even track of.
When that Shuttle mission returned, I think about 5 days later, I noticed on landing that the nosegear seemed to have hit the runway pretty hard after a long maingear roll, indicating something fairly heavy may have been in the cargo bay.
I wouldn't be a bit surprised if it was that missing Soviet satellite.
I think we'd better keep, and even quickly enhance this capability of getting personnel rapidly into orbit.