In the third episode of Star Trek: Discovery, Michael Burnham is being transported on a shuttle. The shuttle is attacked by organisms that feed on electricity, causing the pilot to leave the shuttle on a tether to check up on things.
Their tether seems to snap, and they are catapulted into space (where I’d assume they’d die).
However, it’s later basically stated that this was a strategem of Lorca:
MICHAEL: Why do you want me to stay? I’m not here by accident. I think you brought me here. I think you’ve been testing me.
Star Trek: Discovery, “Context is For Kings” (Season 1, Episode 3)
And later:
LORCA: I did choose you. But not for the reasons you think.
So he at least knew where the shuttle was going to be. Perhaps he was even in league with the pilot. In any case, he was there in time to rescue the shuttle occupants, so perhaps he could also have rescued the pilot (particularly if he knew what was going to happen).
Did the shuttle pilot die or survive? And was their death or survival part of Lorca’s plan?