Mechanical Engineering Interview Question:

Is it possible for something to explode in space like in the movies?

Submitted by: Administrator

Yes, provided there is an oxygen source. A spaceship with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen will blow up quite well in the vacuum of space. Chemical explosives will also explode in space since they function by breaking weakly bonded chemical components; no oxygen is necessary. Nuclear explosions can of course occur in space, too. The United States military in the 60's performed a series of nuke tests in outer space, and found out what EMP can do, when they briefly wiped out Hawaii's electrical grid for a few hours.
Submitted by: Administrator