Did the writers not realise that they set Margot, Poole and NASA up as the bad guys when she implemented a coup to get her own petty way?
If the roles were reversed, Ed would not have supported such a coup just because it was good for him. Poole, on the other hand, doesn't even express any possible concern about going along with such an underhanded play by Margot; all she can care about is that it advances her goals and career.
Now in this episode, they screw over ed even more. He's going to win the race, then he's not because solar sails, then he is because Russians, then he's not because dust storm, then he is because he's first, then he's not because he's too scared for Ed, repeating his shame again with Apollo ten.
The writers apparently do not realise they set up Poole and Margot as the bad guys, meanwhile screwing of Ed on the most demeaning ways.