National Aeronautics and Space Administration

This is a sure sign of serious trouble. The rocket was traveling in a corkscrew pattern as the remaining attitude control system attempted to stabilize it. The trail becomes thicker and straighter at the left edge of the photo, where the second stage ignited and the first stage separated. The second stage worked correctly, but it was not able to make up the deficit from the first stage.

Trouble Begins ASTRO-E Launch The Aftermath