Abstract: A system and method for shattering a launch vehicle into relatively small pieces are described. The launch vehicle includes at least one solid fuel rocket motor having a propellant disposed about a combustion chamber within a rocket motor case. Each rocket motor also includes at least one motor igniter to ignite the propellant and at least one explosive charge adjacent the rocket motor case. A firing unit is capable of generating a motor ignition signal and a charge explosion signal. A first propagator carries the motor ignition signal to the motor igniter so the signal arrives after a propagation time T.sub.ignition and causes ignition of the previously unignited rocket motor. A second propagator carries the charge explosion signal to the explosive charge so the signal arrives after a propagation time T.sub.explosion and causes an explosion against the rocket motor case. The time T.sub.explosion is greater than the time T.sub.ignition by a pressurization time T.sub.