If someone paid close attention to the news released by NACA over the past six months, they would discover an interesting fact:
After the launch of the CZ-10A Remote 2 Rocket, no specific mission information about Artemis II has been disclosed.
The first mission, an unmanned test; the second, an orbit around the Moon; the third, a manned lunar landing—this much was known when the plan began.
Claire had a contingency in place: if the rocket had no issues, the lander had no issues, everything was OK, and there was enough time, then Artemis II would be a lunar landing operation;
if an accident happened or they couldn't be the first, then they would delay or continue with the lunar orbit mission. Everyone assumed that, right?
But these little maneuvers could barely save face with the public. Congress was only aware that they had passed the bill and provided funding, so they had to be NO.1, and John also couldn't bluff his way through that.
