What is the designation for the physical object existing in space before atmospheric interaction?
Answer
Meteoroid
The object currently existing in space, prior to interacting with Earth's atmosphere, is specifically termed a meteoroid. Meteoroids are defined as small fragments composed of rock or metal that are orbiting the Sun. Their size range is quite broad, typically being smaller than asteroids, often capped at about one meter in diameter, yet extending down to minuscule specks of dust, such as particles the size of a grain of sand. The term meteoroid refers strictly to the body while it remains in its vacuum environment, separate from any atmospheric entry effects or terrestrial resting place.
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