Reactor explosions seem to be related to the background grid instead of the ship, meaning that a ship moving at a very fast speed will experience any reactor explosion several cells in the opposite direction of the movement vector. This happens at speeds normal, 1/2 and 1/4.
For some reason pausing the game mid explosion neglects the devastating effects, leaving only the flames.
This seriously affects any counters to missile kiters I mentioned in my other post:
https://forum.cosmoteer.net/d/5489-more-missile-counters