A launch lock assembly (34, 42), comprising: first and second mount pieces (36, 38, 44, 46); and a releasable clamp device normally maintaining the first and second mount pieces (36, 38, 44, 46) in clamped engagement characterized in that the launch lock assembly further includes an axial gap amplification device comprising: a first contrate ring a second contrate ring adjacent the first contrate ring, the second contrate ring: (i) normally residing in an axially-expanded blocking position wherein teeth of the second contrate ring are in tip-to-tip engagement with teeth of the first contrate ring, and (ii) biased toward an axially-collapsed position wherein the teeth of the second contrate ring are in root-to-tip engagement with the teeth of the first contrate ring to decrease the axial length of the axial gap amplification device in a non-blocking position where the first and second mount pieces (36, 38, 44, 46) are released from clamped engagement; further characterized in that the releasable clamp device, when actuated, releases the first and second mount pieces (36, 38, 44, 46) from clamped engagement to allow relative axial motion therebetween and to allow rotation of the second contrate ring into the axially-collapsed position. first and second mount pieces (36, 38, 44, 46); and a releasable clamp device normally maintaining the first and second mount pieces (36, 38, 44, 46) in clamped engagement an axial gap amplification device comprising: a first contrate ring a second contrate ring adjacent the first contrate ring, the second contrate ring: (i) normally residing in an axially-expanded blocking position wherein teeth of the second contrate ring are in tip-to-tip engagement with teeth of the first contrate ring, and (ii) biased toward an axially-collapsed position wherein the teeth of the second contrate ring are in root-to-tip engagement with the teeth of the first contrate ring to decrease the axial length of the axial gap amplification device in a non-blocking position where the first and second mount pieces (36, 38, 44, 46) are released from clamped engagement; further characterized in that the releasable clamp device, when actuated, releases the first and second mount pieces (36, 38, 44, 46) from clamped engagement to allow relative axial motion therebetween and to allow rotation of the second contrate ring into the axially-collapsed position. a first contrate ring a second contrate ring adjacent the first contrate ring, the second contrate ring: (i) normally residing in an axially-expanded blocking position wherein teeth of the second contrate ring are in tip-to-tip engagement with teeth of the first contrate ring, and (ii) biased toward an axially-collapsed position wherein the teeth of the second contrate ring are in root-to-tip engagement with the teeth of the first contrate ring to decrease the axial length of the axial gap amplification device in a non-blocking position where the first and second mount pieces (36, 38, 44, 46) are released from clamped engagement; further characterized in that the releasable clamp device, when actuated, releases the first and second mount pieces (36, 38, 44, 46) from clamped engagement to allow relative axial motion therebetween and to allow rotation of the second contrate ring into the axially-collapsed position.