[KarlInOhio]

I've heard speculation that our delay was intentional. We wanted to establish a precedent of free passage over other countries in space - essentially national sovereignty only goes to the edge of the atmosphere rather than all the way to infinity. We could do that by allowing a Soviet satellite to orbit above us without asserting our rights to the space above the US as we would if a Soviet aircraft crossed our airspace.

I don't know whether it is true or not, or just some rationalization after the first round of the space race.

[SlowBoat407]

I've heard speculation that our delay was intentional. We wanted to establish a precedent of free passage over other countries in space - essentially national sovereignty only goes to the edge of the atmosphere rather than all the way to infinity. We could do that by allowing a Soviet satellite to orbit above us without asserting our rights to the space above the US as we would if a Soviet aircraft crossed our airspace.

I don't know whether it is true or not, or just some rationalization after the first round of the space race.

Sounds like a rationalization of running around with our fingers up our butts to me. I think precedent only applies to action, not inaction. I'm not a lawyer, though.

[massgopguy]

I heard the same thing. If we launched first, the Russians were going to go to the UN and get a ban on orbits that violated space over other countries, namely Russia.

[decimon]

I've heard speculation that our delay was intentional. We wanted to establish a precedent of free passage over other countries in space - essentially national sovereignty only goes to the edge of the atmosphere rather than all the way to infinity. We could do that by allowing a Soviet satellite to orbit above us without asserting our rights to the space above the US as we would if a Soviet aircraft crossed our airspace.

I've read the same. Eisenhower was said to be privately delighted that the Soviets broke the ice on that. His public face was more somber.