images

Simulation of an explosion in geostationary orbit

by

Esa/Novapix

Reference

e-sat99-00112

Date

2008-05-05

What happens after an explosion in space? A geostationary satellite has a velocity of about 3 kms/second (10 000 kms/hour). The fragments are ejected with a much lower velocity and thus stay close to the initial orbit. However, some will travel a bit faster and others a bit slower. Within a few days the debris cloud will form a diffuse ring at 36 000 km altitude around the Earth. Bottom, seen two days after the explosion.