> Then the Soviets pulled ahead with capabilities in LEO, which showed they also probably had "better" ICBMs. In the US the story is that because Soviet nukes

> Then the Soviets pulled ahead with capabilities in LEO, which showed they also probably had "better" ICBMs. In the US the story is that because Soviet nukes were more crude than the US versions, which made them heavier and bulkier so the Soviets had to build their rockets bigger to have enough range. When the focus shifted to putting a man in orbit having a larger rocket to start with was an advantage and allowed the Soviets to achieve a number of firsts. I do agree that declaring the race suddenly over with a man on the moon was a case of taking the ball and going home.