The LA Times had a very nice article last week with reminiscences of engineers who built the Saturn V rocket:
A key problem was the start-up. "They had a design for the starting sequence," Biggs said in an interview. "I did the analysis and told them it was no good. The rocket would probably blow up."
Biggs' solution was to slow down the launch sequence. That gave the Saturn V its characteristic feline look, as it seemed to crouch and gather itself for five seconds after ignition before lifting off the launch pad.
Imagine that -- a "feline look" for a 40-story rocket.
