Escalators don't break, they just become stairs.
When playing through the campaign, I wondered, how did the Pillar Of Autum get onto the surface of Reach intact if isn't supposed to be able to fly in atmosphere? One of my therories are that the PoA joined together with some frigates at hard points like Gettysburg and Acendent Justice in First Strike. The frigates could have helped add to the Pillar Of Autum's power to slowly bring it down. Another theory I thought of which probably isn't the truth, but what if they did a short range/ in atmosphere slipspace jump. Remember how Adrmiral Cole sent calculations to Reach for AIs to process for an in atmosphere slipspace jump? Maybe ONI wanted test it out on a real ship? They would choose the Pillar Of Autum for the test because even though they are different models, they are both in the cruiser class with similar slipspace drives. It would also explain why the PoA is in the middle of nowhere. If the jump did work, then you wouldn't want to deystroy anything in the aftermath of the jump so just in case they had it in the middle of nowhere? Both of these are just my theories on how the Pillar Of Autum is on Reach's surface. A therory on how those rocket things came into existence is that like everything else on the PoA like the reactor and MAC gun is brand new tech so maybe the jets are sparkling new too. Just my opinion on this topic. Also, post your own therories for this issue. I also don't mind critism on my own therories so feel free to correct me or change my thereies.Another thing, if you think there is an awesomer ship than the Pillar Of Autum or the Forerunner Dreadnought -which I doubt it:)-, than post its name and class. Ex.- Midsummer Night Steath Frigate.