Easily. The yardstick is unstable in inclination if it isn&#x27;t vertical. The rocket is unstable in horizontal position if it isn&#x27;t vertical. But it doesn&#x27;t start to rotate as long as the thrust vector goes through the CG. The thrust vector has stable orientation relative to the rocket (if you don&#x27;t gimbal), whereas the force vector doesn&#x27;t have stable orientation relative to the yardstick.