images

Rocket upperstage explosion - Artist view.

by

Esa/Novapix

Reference

e-sat99-00020

Date

2008-05-05

Rocket upperstage explosion - Artist view. The explosions are mainly caused by onboard energy sources, either due to pressure build-up in propellant tanks, battery explosions, or the ignition of hypergolic fuels. Each explosion creates thousands of small debris objects.