micrometeorite
noun
mi·cro·me·te·or·ite
ˌmī-krō-ˈmē-tē-ə-ˌrīt 
1
: a meteorite so small that it can pass through the earth's atmosphere without becoming intensely heated
2
: a very small particle in interplanetary space
Examples of micrometeorite in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
One major problem that her skills helped the crew resolve occurred when the Soyuz capsule the Russian cosmonauts use to return to earth was hit by a micrometeorite, causing a serious leak.
—
The Arizona Republic, 29 Mar. 2024
Solar wind, micrometeorites, and even the thermal expansion and compression caused by the Moon's day/night cycle all work to grind up surface rock into dust.
—Phil Plait, Discover Magazine, 19 Aug. 2010
This shroud might solve one of the most worrisome issues faced by JWST: micrometeorite strikes have dinged and dented its large exposed mirror.
—Jonathan O'Callaghan, Scientific American, 6 Dec. 2023
According to the Times, 3-D printing the houses from the moon's own surface materials would allow the dwellings to withstand the moon's extreme temperature swings and toxic combination of micrometeorites and radiation.
—Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 10 Oct. 2023
On January 11, 2023, Roscosmos confirmed that a micrometeorite had struck the external cooling loop of the spacecraft and deemed it unsafe to fly home.
—Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 21 Feb. 2023
Moreover, if there are so many micrometeorites intersecting with the space station's orbit, why is the outpost not riddled with holes?
—Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 21 Feb. 2023
Polar regions, such as Greenland and Antarctica, that are covered with ice year-round are hot spots for micrometeorite research because of their geographical isolation and stasis.
—Sarah Derouin, Scientific American, 29 Apr. 2021
First reported in September as possible micrometeorite damage, a small hole that caused a drop in pressure in a Soyuz transport craft docked at the International Space Station now appears to have been drilled.
—Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 20 Jan. 2019
The Arizona Republic, 29 Mar. 2024
Solar wind, micrometeorites, and even the thermal expansion and compression caused by the Moon's day/night cycle all work to grind up surface rock into dust.
—Phil Plait, Discover Magazine, 19 Aug. 2010
This shroud might solve one of the most worrisome issues faced by JWST: micrometeorite strikes have dinged and dented its large exposed mirror.
—Jonathan O'Callaghan, Scientific American, 6 Dec. 2023
According to the Times, 3-D printing the houses from the moon's own surface materials would allow the dwellings to withstand the moon's extreme temperature swings and toxic combination of micrometeorites and radiation.
—Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 10 Oct. 2023
On January 11, 2023, Roscosmos confirmed that a micrometeorite had struck the external cooling loop of the spacecraft and deemed it unsafe to fly home.
—Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 21 Feb. 2023
Moreover, if there are so many micrometeorites intersecting with the space station's orbit, why is the outpost not riddled with holes?
—Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 21 Feb. 2023
Polar regions, such as Greenland and Antarctica, that are covered with ice year-round are hot spots for micrometeorite research because of their geographical isolation and stasis.
—Sarah Derouin, Scientific American, 29 Apr. 2021
First reported in September as possible micrometeorite damage, a small hole that caused a drop in pressure in a Soyuz transport craft docked at the International Space Station now appears to have been drilled.
—Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 20 Jan. 2019
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'micrometeorite.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near micrometeorite
Cite this Entry
“Micrometeorite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/micrometeorite. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
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micrometeorite
noun
mi·cro·me·te·or·ite
ˌmī-krō-ˈmēt-ē-ə-ˌrīt
: a very small particle in space
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