[Jim Noble]

It's a good thought but I bet the external pressures on the vehicle during this phase are so high that the gear motor couldn't extend the strut if it was trying to.

[don-o]

Jumping in here, I am greatly imprssed by Dittemore. He is giving what he can

[Fitzcarraldo]

It's a good thought but I bet the external pressures on the vehicle during this phase are so high that the gear motor couldn't extend the strut if it was trying to.

I think the external pressures at sea level are higher when it opens normally...alternatively if it open high in the atmosphere, there would be very little force opposing it until the shuttle dipped lower, then the force would be tangential but the heating very high...