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Seems like dealing with satellites is a truly trivial application of "adaptive" optics.

You can't possibly expect me to believe that you have the processing power and technical know-how to remove the influence of atmospheric distortion, but that you're helpless when confronted with discrete fast-moving objects for which you have ephemerides. Sorry, that dog just don't hunt.

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Initial versions of Starlink would reflect so much light that they would overwhelm significant areas of the sensors. If the reflection issue is resolved with the new sun shades, then the satellite trails can be removed during post-processing.

They can also use a shutter, for the cases where postprocessing really isn't an adequate answer.

The more light-sensitive the observation is, the longer they're integrating, ergo the less harm that a fast transient satellite pass will do.

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