If they wanted an "international" space station, they should have taken the UN and shot it up there - would have solved two problems instead of none.
But while we did miss a huge opportunity by passing on the super collider, we did quietly move forward on one of my favorite projects:
Ligo Gravity Wave Detector
BBC article on same
Can't say I really get all of it but it sure is interesting and seems like it might answer some important questions.