Satellite Explodes After 'Catastrophic Event'

A Navy satellite used to provide real-time weather reports has exploded in space.

The US Air Force confirmed that the 20-year-old Defense Meteorological Satellite Program Flight 13 (DMSP-F13) suffered a "catastrophic event".

It shattered into 43 pieces following a sudden temperature spike which triggered the loss of its altitude control.

The event happened on 3 February but the incident has only just came to light following questions from website Space News.

There are six other DMSPs in orbit, with a seventh scheduled for a 2016 launch.

DMSP-13 had been retired to a backup role and its loss is unlikely to have had a major impact on weather forecasting operations.

However it is thought that it caused some issues with real-time weather data transmission.

The satellite was launched in 1995 and provides weather imagery to Air Force and Navy forecasters.

It was moved into the backup role in 2006.