Well few things looks to have been missed, but the things that stand out in the story and that I thinking is wrong is, JFK did in fact know about the USSR program, and so did the US military,
They was waiting for the USSR to make the around the world flight and by doing so prove that national borders was limited to below space, you might think why is that important ?
US had already few spy satellites ready to be deployed now that the U2 program was no longer able to provide the information needed, however legal fears of USSR making claims to ownership in space for geo obit prevented the launch and deployment.
So when The USSR in fact gave away the rights doing the first manned flight the door was opened and the spy satellites was able to be deployed, with no fears that it might be seen as a hostile act that might start 3rd world war.
One coin 2 sides depending on how you look at things.
They was waiting for the USSR to make the around the world flight and by doing so prove that national borders was limited to below space, you might think why is that important ?
US had already few spy satellites ready to be deployed now that the U2 program was no longer able to provide the information needed, however legal fears of USSR making claims to ownership in space for geo obit prevented the launch and deployment.
So when The USSR in fact gave away the rights doing the first manned flight the door was opened and the spy satellites was able to be deployed, with no fears that it might be seen as a hostile act that might start 3rd world war.
One coin 2 sides depending on how you look at things.