article_snippet: A 20-year-old US Air Force satellite has exploded in space, adding 43 pieces of space junk to Earth’s orbit, reports have claimed.
article_snippet: A US Air Force satellite has exploded 500 miles above Earth's surface.
article_snippet: This was followed by 'an unrecoverable loss of altitude control', before pieces of debris were then spotted in the vicinity of the satellite - suggesting 'an unrecoverable loss of altitude control' had partially exploded.
article_snippet: This was followed by 'an unrecoverable loss of altitude control', before pieces of debris were then spotted in the vicinity of the satellite - suggesting 'an unrecoverable loss of altitude control' had partially, or completely, exploded (stock illustration shown)
article_snippet: Dr Krag noted that This latest explosion occurred above 500 miles (800km), where few other satellites were in orbit.
highlights_snippet: A US Air Force satellite has exploded 500 miles above Earth's surface .
  