A U.S. military weather satellite exploded in orbit last month when a sudden temperature spike ignited its power system. The explosion blew the satellite apart and created 43 pieces of space debris.

This blast was also the second spacecraft from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) to experience such a disaster in 11 years.

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This Air Force satellite was launched in 1995 and was part of a seven satellite DMSP network. It was designed as a spare satellite. 

Last February, flight controllers and satellite operators witnessed a sudden temperature spike in the power system of the DMSP-F13 and immediately shut down all other systems. This glitch caused the spacecraft to lose its ability to position and maneuver.

With an investigation already in the works, the U.S. Joint Space Operations Center at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California began tracking operations amidst the field of debris in the area of the satellite explosion.

According to Air Force Colonel John Giles who is also the center's director, the initial response to the incident was dealt with. Space Operations personnel, however, will still continue to carry out assessments and study what happened to the satellite.

The role of the DMSP network is to map and provide visible and infrared cloud imagery from all points around the globe, including meteorological, oceanographic and solar data.

The destroyed satellite, DMSP-F13, is also the oldest satellites among all the satellites that are part of the 52 year-old network located in a 497-mile high polar orbit.

The last DMSP satellite exploded in 2004 and scattered 56 pieces of debris large enough to be detected by ground based radars on Earth. This latest satellite wasn't operational at that time.

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