<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Kyle Baron wrote, in part, "On the two sides where the rams are attached, the rams hold the nozzle firmly in place, but on the opposite side of the nozzle, where there are no such devices providing support, the nozzle deflects/rotates by a significant amount."Hunh? Do you mean the nozzle deforms like an egg around its longitudinal axis? If that is true, then it would also be true during flight. In point of fact, the nozzle's joint is NOT a ball-joint, but (IIRC) a Flex-seal joint composed of alternating conoidal rings of steel and flexible material in between. It is flexible, but not to the extent that the nozzle pivots like the ball-joints on your car's suspension system! The actuator rods provide plenty of support to the exit cone. If, indeed, there is any temporary "egging" of the nozzle at the moment of ignition, it can be nulled out ahead of time by biasing the actuator's position in the direction required. If that turns out to be insufficient, opposing actuators could be added in opposition to the others, though it would, of course, add weight. The TVC's response time to angular accelerometer inputs to the guidance system can probably be tweaked.As to holding the vehicle down until the thrust builds up to full, I was under the impression that that happens on the Shuttle launches anyway. (Shuttle Guy, please jump in here if I am all wet on these items!)Please understand, I am NOT a fan of Ares I, or other solid rocket boosters of this size, on "high value" payload missions. But, until the problems defy solution, technically and/or budgetarily, we are probably stuck with this beast!Only time will tell! <br />Posted by trailrider</DIV></p><p>The Shuttle Main Engines start about 7 seconds before liftoff, to build up to full power and ensure they are operation correctly. Then when the solids are lit, it is released within a few tenths of a second. That's what I see anyway.<br /></p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>