If I got the math right, then about 1 in every 32,000 stars in the universe goes supernova each year. That's scary. But I think I'm getting the math very wrong.
edit: I guess my error might be related to confusing a probability factor with the number of incidents in a period.
edit: The right answer is probably up to 1 in every 10bn stars go supernovae in the universe each year (or 1 in 10bn die and a fraction are supernovae). Thanks: yzydserd and
zild3d
Couldn’t it be as simple as a face recognition unlock?
There’s an option on iPhone’s FaceID to require eyes open and looking at phone to unlock, but this might have been deselected. Or it could be subverted.
I agree that alignment would be a massive challenge. There aren’t even cameras on the satellites to help with visual alignment. There’s also the possibility of damage from the pushing or the ion exhaust, more so if the imperfect alignment sets them spinning
The Starlink satellites were not released into the correct orbit. SpaceX is using their ion thrusters to try to raise the orbit, but Elon Musk said this isn’t likely to succeed.
Could SpaceX use one satellite to push another?
This procedure would deliberately sacrifice the pushing satellite, but maybe give the pushed satellite enough additional delta-v to reach a working orbit.
Yes, that's what it was designed to be