[bri3d]

Isn't one of the advantages of the hybrid solid fuel / liquid oxidizer design that it can be throttled to some extent by cutting off the oxidizer using a valve?

I do agree that I can't see why a feather during a burn would ever be desired, but we'll have to wait for the NTSB to see whether the flaw was in the design or manufacture.

[lisper]

Yep, you're right. I was confusing the SS2 design with the shuttle SRBs. My mistake.