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Reminder: The *average* bolide impact velocity at Earth is 20 km/s. That's five seconds from the Kármán line to the ground. There's no slow movement of an asteroid through the sky, giving you enough time to say goodbye to your loved ones. One moment you're alive, the next you're on fire.

But what is the median atmospheric entry flight path angle? Many impacts would be a lot shallower than a vertical entry, and thus stay aloft longer. (And, fwiw, atmospheric entry is traditionally considered to start above the Karman line.)

Average impact angle is 45°. Travel time is thus √2, which makes little meaningful difference to impacting the surface. If you want to (pedantically) argue for EI at 122 km, fine; add a second to the travel time.

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