Why Does Starlink Need So Many Satellites?

 If you regularly see SpaceX launching another batch of Starlink satellites, you might wonder why the network needs thousands of satellites when traditional satellite TV services such as Sky and Freesat can operate using just a handful.

The answer comes down to orbit, coverage, capacity and latency.

More than 10,000 Starlink satellites

As of July 2026, more than 10,800 Starlink satellites are operational, with SpaceX having launched more than 12,500 in total. Older satellites are regularly retired and removed from orbit.

And the network is still growing. SpaceX has regulatory approval for around 19,500 satellites, while its longer-term plans envisage a constellation of approximately 34,400.

But why are so many necessary?

Further reading and information available here

BBC iPlayer Ends Support for Many Devices

 If you’ve recently opened the BBC iPlayer app and been greeted by a warning saying “You’ll soon need to watch iPlayer another way”, you’re not alone.

From 30 September 2026, BBC iPlayer will stop working directly on a number of Android TV and Google TV devices, leaving many users wondering why a perfectly good streaming device is suddenly losing support.

The warning explains that BBC apps have been supported on the device for the last seven years, but support is ending, directing users to the BBC’s website to find another way to watch.

Further reading and information available here

Geostationary vs Low Earth Orbit Satellites

 When most people think of satellites, they imagine a single spacecraft floating high above the Earth, providing television, internet or communications. In reality, there are several different types of satellite orbits, each designed for specific purposes. The two most common for communications are Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) and Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

Although both are used to transmit data around the world, they operate in very different ways. Traditional satellite television services such as Sky and Freesat rely on geostationary satellites, while modern broadband providers like Starlink use thousands of Low Earth Orbit satellites.

Further reading and information available here

Channel 5 Moves to DVB-S2 on UK Satellite Platform

 Channel 5 has updated one of its UK satellite transmissions, meaning older SD satellite receivers will no longer be able to receive the channel.

The transponder on 11307MHz Horizontal (SR 27500, FEC 2/3) has changed from DVB-S to DVB-S2 8PSK. While the frequency itself remains the same, the move to the newer DVB-S2 transmission standard requires an HD-compatible satellite receiver.

Further reading and information available here

BBC Studios Eyes More UK Streaming Deals for BBC Shows

 The BBC is considering new ways to maximise the value of its programmes by allowing them to appear on additional UK streaming platforms after they’ve completed their initial run on BBC television and BBC iPlayer.

The move centres on “second window” rights—the opportunity to licence programmes to other broadcasters and streaming services once they’ve first been shown on the BBC. It’s an approach that could generate additional income without reducing the BBC’s public service offering.

However, many viewers are surprised to learn that these deals are usually handled not by the BBC itself, but by BBC Studios, a separate commercial company owned by the BBC.

Further reading and information available here

BBC Licence Fee Payers Fall by Over Half a Million

 The BBC is facing growing financial pressure after revealing that the number of households paying the television licence fee has fallen by more than half a million over the past year. The latest figures show that 539,000 fewer TV licences are now in force, reducing the total to around 23.3 million – one of the largest annual declines seen in recent years.

The figures were published as part of the BBC’s latest Annual Report and come at a time when the broadcaster is already facing increasing competition from streaming services such as Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video. Changing viewing habits, combined with rising living costs and the growth of online entertainment, are leading many households to reassess whether they still need a TV licence.

Further reading and information available here

Spain's DVB-T2 TV Upgrade Starts This November

Spain has officially confirmed one of the biggest changes to its digital television network since the original digital switchover. From 5 November 2026, the country will begin the transition to DVB-T2, the next-generation terrestrial television broadcasting standard that will eventually replace the current DVB-T system used across Spain's Televisión Digital Terrestre (TDT) network.

The move marks a major step forward for Spanish television, paving the way for more high-definition channels, improved picture quality, better spectrum efficiency and the future expansion of Ultra HD (4K) broadcasting. For most viewers the transition should be straightforward, but older televisions and set-top boxes may require replacement or an upgrade. (satandpcguy.com)

What Is DVB-T2?

DVB-T2 is the second generation of the Digital Video Broadcasting – Terrestrial standard.

Compared with the existing DVB-T system, DVB-T2 can carry significantly more data within the same amount of radio spectrum. This increased efficiency allows broadcasters to deliver:

• More HD television channels

• Additional Ultra HD (4K) services

• Better picture quality

• Improved sound quality

• More reliable reception in some areas

• Greater capacity for future television services

Many European countries, including the UK, Germany and Italy, have already adopted DVB-T2 for at least part of their terrestrial television networks. Spain is now joining that growing list.

Why Is Spain Making the Change?

The main reason is future capacity.

Television broadcasters are demanding more bandwidth for HD and Ultra HD services, while governments continue to reallocate sections of the UHF spectrum for mobile communications and future wireless technologies.

By switching to DVB-T2 together with the HEVC (H.265) video compression standard, broadcasters can transmit substantially more channels without requiring additional radio frequencies.

This creates room for future expansion while making much more efficient use of the spectrum already allocated to television broadcasting.

What Happens on 5 November?

The launch date marks the beginning of Spain's DVB-T2 era rather than an overnight switchover.

Initially, DVB-T2 multiplexes will begin operating alongside the existing DVB-T services, allowing households time to upgrade their equipment if necessary.

For most viewers, the only immediate requirement may be to perform a channel rescan if new services become available in their area.

The existing DVB-T platform will continue operating during a transition period before being phased out at a later date.

This gradual migration is designed to minimise disruption while encouraging viewers to move to compatible receivers.

Will Your Television Work?

Many modern televisions already support DVB-T2 and HEVC decoding.

If your TV was purchased during the past several years, particularly if it supports 4K Ultra HD, there is a good chance it is already compatible.

However, some older equipment may only support the original DVB-T standard.

If that is the case, viewers may eventually need:

• A new DVB-T2 compatible television

• A DVB-T2 set-top receiver

• A software update, where supported

Checking your television's specifications now could avoid surprises as the transition gathers pace.

Better Picture Quality

One of the biggest advantages of DVB-T2 is the opportunity to expand high-definition broadcasting.

Although Spain already offers several HD channels, the improved efficiency of DVB-T2 means broadcasters can transmit more HD services while maintaining better picture quality.

The new standard also makes widespread 4K broadcasting much more practical, especially when combined with HEVC compression.

As more households purchase Ultra HD televisions, broadcasters now have a platform capable of delivering content that fully takes advantage of modern displays.

No Changes to Your Aerial

The good news is that most households will not need to replace their television aerial.

DVB-T2 uses the same terrestrial transmission network and the same UHF frequencies already used for digital television.

In most cases, existing rooftop aerials and communal antenna systems will continue working perfectly.

Some communal systems in apartment buildings may require adjustments if frequency changes occur in the future, but the vast majority of viewers will not need any changes to their external aerial installation.

Part of a Wider European Trend

Spain's decision reflects a wider movement across Europe.

Countries have increasingly adopted DVB-T2 because it offers greater flexibility and significantly improves spectrum efficiency.

The UK, for example, has used DVB-T2 for HD services since the launch of Freeview HD in 2009, while many other European broadcasters have already migrated entirely to the newer standard.

By making the transition now, Spain ensures its terrestrial television platform remains competitive with satellite, cable and streaming services for many years to come.

What About Satellite Viewers?

The DVB-T2 transition only affects terrestrial television received through an aerial.

Households watching television via satellite platforms such as Astra, cable services or internet streaming will not be directly affected.

Similarly, viewers using subscription television platforms that provide their own receivers are unlikely to notice any immediate changes.

The migration is specifically aimed at Spain's free-to-air terrestrial television network.

Preparing for the Future

The introduction of DVB-T2 is about much more than simply improving today's television channels.

It provides the technical foundation for future developments including:

• Expanded Ultra HD broadcasting

• Improved HDR support

• More efficient compression

• Better audio formats

• Additional interactive services

• Increased network capacity

As television technology continues to evolve, DVB-T2 ensures Spain's terrestrial platform can keep pace with changing viewer expectations.

The Bottom Line

Spain's confirmation that DVB-T2 broadcasting will begin on 5 November 2026 represents a major milestone for the country's digital television network.

The transition promises more efficient broadcasting, additional HD capacity and a clear path towards wider 4K television services, helping free-to-air television remain competitive in an increasingly streaming-focused world.

For most viewers, the change should be relatively straightforward. Modern televisions are often already compatible, existing aerials will usually continue to work, and the transition will be introduced gradually rather than through an overnight switch-off.

While owners of older televisions may eventually need to upgrade their equipment, the long-term benefits are clear. DVB-T2 will allow Spain to deliver higher-quality television, make better use of valuable radio spectrum and prepare the country's broadcasting infrastructure for the next generation of digital TV services.

Further reading and information available here

What Sky's ITV Deal Means for UK Television

After months of speculation, one of the biggest deals in British broadcasting history has now been officially confirmed.

Sky, owned by Comcast, has agreed to acquire ITV's Media & Entertainment division in a deal worth up to £1.6 billion, creating the UK's largest commercial television broadcaster. The agreement brings together Sky's subscription television business with ITV's free-to-air channels and ITVX streaming platform in a move designed to strengthen both companies against growing competition from global streaming giants such as Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+.

The transaction still requires approval from UK regulators and is expected to take between 12 and 18 months to complete, but the direction of travel is now clear. British television is entering a new era.

What Sky Is Actually Buying

The acquisition covers ITV's Media & Entertainment business, which includes:

• ITV1

• ITV2

• ITV3

• ITV4

• ITVBe's successor services

• ITVX

• ITV's advertising business

• Digital and online operations

However, one major part of ITV is not included in the sale.

ITV Studios will remain a separate publicly listed company, continuing to produce programmes for broadcasters and streaming services around the world.

ITV Studios Could Become Even More Important

Although ITV is selling its broadcasting arm, ITV Studios may actually become one of the biggest winners from the deal.

The production company owns or produces many internationally successful programmes including:

• The Voice

• Love Island

• I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!

• Mr Bates vs The Post Office

• Trigger Point

It also gains Sky Studios' production business, Sky Studios' distribution arm (Sky Vision) and Sky's entertainment production label, Shine TV, creating one of Europe's largest television production groups. That means programmes such as The Great British Bake Off, produced by Shine TV, would sit alongside ITV Studios' existing catalogue, giving the combined production company an even broader portfolio of hit entertainment, drama and factual programming.

Industry analysts believe the enlarged ITV Studios could become an acquisition target itself in future, or continue expanding through further mergers and acquisitions.

What Changes for Viewers?

In the short term, very little.

Sky has confirmed that ITV's public service broadcasting obligations remain unchanged.

That means viewers will still be able to watch:

• ITV1

• ITV2

• ITV3

• ITV4

• ITVX

without paying a Sky subscription.

Current public service broadcasting commitments mean ITV's main services are expected to remain free-to-air until at least 2034.

So if you're worried that Coronation Street or Emmerdale will suddenly disappear behind a paywall, that's not going to happen.

ITVX and NOW Could Become Closer

Perhaps the biggest changes will happen online.

Sky now owns:

• Sky Stream

• Sky Glass

• NOW

• ITVX

That gives the company two major streaming platforms.

Many industry experts expect closer integration between ITVX and NOW over the coming years.

Possible developments include:

• shared technology

• unified user accounts

• combined recommendations

• shared advertising systems

• cross-platform subscriptions

• bundled streaming packages

While Sky has not announced any specific plans, combining resources could help create a much stronger British streaming platform capable of competing with international services.

Expect More Cross-Promotion

One immediate benefit for Sky is marketing.

Previously, Sky could advertise its own programmes primarily across Sky channels.

Now it gains access to some of Britain's largest commercial television audiences through ITV.

That creates huge opportunities for cross-promotion.

Sky could advertise new Sky Originals, Sky Cinema premieres and Sky Sports coverage during popular ITV programmes, while ITV content could receive greater exposure across Sky's own channels, Sky Stream, Sky Glass and NOW.

Viewers are therefore likely to see far more promotion between the two brands than ever before, helping both services reach larger audiences without relying solely on external advertising.

Why the Deal Happened

The television market has changed dramatically over the past decade.

Traditional broadcasters now compete against companies with enormous global budgets.

Netflix, YouTube, Disney+ and Amazon invest billions every year in original content and technology.

At the same time:

• traditional TV audiences have declined

• advertising revenues have come under pressure

• streaming competition has intensified

• production costs have increased

By combining forces, Sky and ITV believe they will be better positioned to compete with these global players while continuing to invest in British programming. The companies estimate the merger could generate around £200 million a year in savings through shared technology, operations and marketing.

Will There Be Job Losses?

Large media mergers almost always involve some restructuring.

Because Sky and ITV both operate areas such as marketing, technology, finance, sales and administration, some overlap is inevitable.

Although neither company has confirmed specific numbers, industry analysts expect some job reductions as duplicate functions are combined.

At the same time, executives argue that the savings will free up more money for investment in programming and digital services over the longer term.

Could This Trigger More Media Mergers?

Many analysts believe this deal could be just the beginning.

The UK's television industry is under increasing pressure to achieve greater scale.

Following the Sky-ITV announcement, speculation has already grown about the future of other broadcasters and production companies, including Channel 4 and ITV Studios itself.

Across Europe, broadcasters are increasingly exploring mergers, partnerships and content-sharing agreements as they compete against global streaming platforms with vastly greater financial resources.

The Bottom Line

Sky's £1.6 billion acquisition of ITV's Media & Entertainment business marks one of the most significant moments in British broadcasting for decades.

For viewers, the immediate impact should be minimal. ITV's free-to-air channels will remain available, ITVX continues to operate, and popular programmes such as Coronation Street, Emmerdale and major sporting events will stay where audiences expect to find them.

The biggest changes are likely to emerge gradually. Closer integration between ITVX and NOW, increased cross-promotion across Sky and ITV platforms, and the addition of Sky's Shine TV production business to ITV Studios have the potential to reshape how British television is made, marketed and distributed.

Ultimately, the deal is less about changing what viewers watch tomorrow and more about ensuring that two of Britain's biggest broadcasters have the scale, technology and financial strength to compete in a television market increasingly dominated by global streaming giants. Whether that strategy succeeds will become one of the defining stories of UK broadcasting over the next decade.

Further reading and information available here

Spain's IPTV Crackdown Hits Legitimate Websites

 Spain has become one of Europe's most aggressive countries in the fight against illegal football streaming.

For months, La Liga has been working with internet service providers and the Spanish courts to block access to websites and servers used to distribute unauthorised live football broadcasts.

The objective is straightforward: make it as difficult as possible for viewers to watch pirated matches.

However, a growing body of evidence suggests the campaign has had a serious unintended consequence.

According to researchers from the Open Observatory of Network Interference (OONI), more than 500,000 legitimate websites have also been caught up in the blocking measures, affecting everything from charities and businesses to scientific organisations and everyday online services.

The findings have reignited the debate over whether the fight against piracy is beginning to cause more harm than good.

How the Blocking Works

Unlike traditional website blocking, which targets a single domain name, many of La Liga's anti-piracy measures focus on IP addresses used to distribute illegal football streams.

That approach sounds sensible until you consider how today's internet works.

Many websites share the same server or Content Delivery Network (CDN), particularly services provided by companies such as:

• Cloudflare

• Amazon Web Services

• Microsoft Azure

• Akamai

• Meta

A single IP address may therefore host hundreds—or even thousands—of completely unrelated websites.

When that IP address is blocked during a football match, every website using it can become temporarily inaccessible.

More Than Half a Million Websites Affected

OONI's report paints a striking picture.

Researchers analysed internet connectivity across Spain between January and June 2026 and found that at least 554,000 domains experienced blocking at some point during La Liga match broadcasts.

In many cases, blocking just four to twenty IP addresses during a single match was enough to disrupt access to more than 400,000 legitimate websites.

Overall, approximately 5.8% of the 9.2 million domains monitored by OONI were affected during the study period.

Legitimate Websites Caught in the Crossfire

The report found that many completely unrelated organisations became inaccessible while football matches were taking place.

Examples included:

• Amnesty International

• Greenpeace

• Berkeley Earth

• Business websites

• Educational services

• Online messaging platforms

• Charity websites

None of these organisations had any connection to football piracy.

Their only link was that they happened to share internet infrastructure with websites that were allegedly streaming matches illegally.

Why Shared Infrastructure Creates Problems

Modern websites rarely operate from dedicated servers.

Instead, cloud providers host enormous numbers of websites behind the same IP addresses to improve efficiency, security and performance.

Cloudflare alone protects millions of websites worldwide.

When a court orders internet providers to block one of those shared addresses, every customer using that infrastructure risks becoming collateral damage.

OONI identified Cloudflare as the provider most heavily affected, with more than 500,000 domains impacted through IP-based blocking.

A Growing Backlash

The findings have prompted criticism from digital rights organisations, internet infrastructure providers and some technology experts.

Critics argue that blocking shared IP addresses is too blunt an instrument for tackling modern piracy.

Instead of targeting the specific illegal stream, entire sections of the internet can become unavailable for the duration of football matches.

Some internet providers have also questioned whether rights holders should bear greater responsibility when legitimate businesses lose access because of anti-piracy enforcement.

Privacy Concerns

The OONI researchers also reported evidence suggesting that some users experienced TLS Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) behaviour on certain networks during blocking periods.

While the exact implementation varied between providers, the findings raised additional concerns about privacy and internet security alongside the website outages themselves.

Although these observations require continued investigation, they have added another layer to an already controversial debate.

Why La Liga Is Taking Such Strong Action

From La Liga's perspective, the campaign is driven by the enormous value of television broadcasting rights.

Broadcasters pay billions of euros for exclusive football coverage.

Illegal IPTV services and pirate streaming websites undermine that investment by offering unauthorised access to live matches.

La Liga argues that decisive enforcement is essential to protect clubs, broadcasters and the wider football industry from the financial damage caused by piracy. The league has consistently defended its anti-piracy strategy and maintains that protecting audiovisual rights is vital to the future of professional football.

Could Other Countries Follow?

Spain is often viewed as a testing ground for new anti-piracy techniques.

If the strategy proves legally successful, similar approaches could be adopted elsewhere in Europe.

However, the scale of the collateral damage revealed by OONI is likely to make regulators and courts think carefully before authorising widespread IP-based blocking.

Broadcasters face a difficult balancing act.

They need effective tools to combat organised piracy, but those measures also need to avoid disrupting legitimate internet users and businesses.

Finding that balance may prove one of the biggest challenges in future anti-piracy policy.

The Bottom Line

Spain's campaign against illegal football streaming demonstrates just how determined rights holders have become in protecting valuable broadcasting rights.

But it also highlights the risks of using broad technical measures in an internet built on shared infrastructure.

According to OONI's research, more than half a million legitimate websites were affected by IP blocking during La Liga broadcasts, with charities, businesses, educational services and other unrelated websites temporarily becoming inaccessible alongside the pirate streams being targeted.

Few would argue against tackling organised IPTV piracy, particularly when broadcasters invest billions in sports rights. The controversy lies in how that battle is being fought. As anti-piracy technology becomes more sophisticated, the challenge for regulators, football leagues and internet providers will be ensuring that legitimate users are not caught in the crossfire.

The outcome of Spain's approach could influence anti-piracy policy across Europe for years to come, making this far more than a local issue. It has become an important test of how to protect copyright in an increasingly interconnected internet without unintentionally disrupting the wider web.

Further reading and information available here

NASA Attempts First-Ever Satellite Rescue Mission

NASA has launched one of the most ambitious and unusual space missions in its history—not to explore a distant planet or land on an asteroid, but to save one of its own aging spacecraft before it falls back to Earth.

The mission, known as Swift Boost, aims to rescue the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, a space telescope that has spent more than two decades studying some of the most powerful explosions in the universe. Rather than allowing the observatory to slowly descend into Earth's atmosphere and burn up, NASA has sent a specially designed robotic spacecraft to capture it and raise it into a safer orbit. If successful, the mission will become the first American attempt to extend the life of an existing satellite using an autonomous robotic servicing spacecraft.

Why Swift Needs Saving

The Swift Observatory was launched in 2004 to detect and study gamma-ray bursts—the most energetic explosions known in the universe. These events occur when massive stars collapse into black holes or when neutron stars collide, releasing enormous amounts of energy in just a few seconds.

Over the past 20 years, Swift has contributed to thousands of scientific discoveries and remains one of NASA's most productive astronomy missions.

The problem is not with the telescope itself.

Swift is still functioning remarkably well, but it has no onboard propulsion system. Years of atmospheric drag, made worse by increased solar activity, have steadily lowered its orbit. Without intervention, NASA estimates the observatory could have re-entered Earth's atmosphere and been destroyed before the end of 2026.

Enter the LINK Spacecraft

Rather than building an expensive replacement telescope, NASA awarded a $30 million contract to Arizona-based Katalyst Space Technologies to develop a rescue vehicle.

The result is a robotic spacecraft called LINK.

Built in less than nine months, LINK was launched aboard a Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL rocket, released from the company's famous Stargazer aircraft over the Pacific Ocean. The unusual air-launch system places the spacecraft directly into low Earth orbit, where it can begin chasing Swift.

A Delicate Rendezvous

Unlike previous servicing missions carried out by Space Shuttle astronauts, Swift was never designed to be repaired or upgraded.

It has:

• no docking port

• no refuelling connection

• no robotic servicing fixtures

That makes the mission particularly challenging.

LINK must slowly approach the telescope using cameras, sensors and autonomous navigation before carefully attaching itself using three robotic arms.

Only then can it begin firing its own electric thrusters to raise Swift into a higher, more stable orbit.

The orbital boost is expected to take around 60 days, gradually increasing Swift's altitude from approximately 224 miles (360 km) to around 373 miles (600 km) above Earth.

Why Not Build a New Telescope?

Replacing Swift would cost hundreds of millions of dollars and take many years.

By comparison, the rescue mission costs only around $30 million, making it a relatively inexpensive way of extending the observatory's scientific life.

Swift continues to detect gamma-ray bursts, monitor black holes, observe neutron star collisions and respond rapidly to new cosmic events.

NASA believes preserving an already operational observatory represents far better value than abandoning it while it is still producing world-class science.

A Test for the Future

Although saving Swift is the immediate objective, NASA hopes the mission will prove something even more important.

If robotic servicing becomes routine, future spacecraft could be:

• refuelled

• repaired

• upgraded

• repositioned

• extended far beyond their original design life

Instead of treating satellites as disposable machines, space agencies may eventually maintain them much like aircraft are serviced on Earth.

That could dramatically reduce costs while creating an entirely new commercial industry dedicated to satellite maintenance.

Hubble Could Be Next

Swift may simply be the beginning.

NASA has already suggested that similar technology could eventually help preserve the Hubble Space Telescope, which is also gradually losing altitude because of atmospheric drag.

Unlike Hubble, which benefited from several servicing missions by Space Shuttle astronauts between 1993 and 2009, future maintenance would almost certainly rely on robotic spacecraft.

If LINK succeeds, it could provide a blueprint for extending Hubble's operational life without requiring astronauts to visit the telescope.

A New Era of Space Servicing

The Swift mission reflects a wider shift in the space industry.

Instead of launching satellites and abandoning them when they fail, companies are increasingly developing technologies capable of servicing spacecraft already in orbit.

Future robotic vehicles may one day:

• repair communications satellites

• replace failed components

• refuel spacecraft

• remove dangerous space debris

• assemble large structures in orbit

• support future lunar missions

Many experts believe in-orbit servicing will become one of the fastest-growing sectors of the commercial space industry during the next decade.

Why This Mission Matters

While the rescue of a single telescope may seem like a niche scientific story, its implications are enormous.

For decades, satellites have largely been treated as disposable assets.

Once fuel ran out or equipment failed, the mission ended.

Swift Boost challenges that idea.

If successful, it will demonstrate that spacecraft can be rescued, repositioned and potentially maintained long after launch.

That changes how future satellites could be designed, financed and operated.

Instead of replacing billion-pound spacecraft every few decades, operators may simply service them in orbit.

The Bottom Line

NASA's Swift Boost mission is far more than an attempt to save one aging space telescope.

It represents the first step towards a future where satellites are no longer viewed as disposable machines but as valuable assets that can be maintained, repaired and given a second life.

By sending the LINK robotic spacecraft to capture and raise the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory into a higher orbit, NASA is attempting something that has never been achieved by the United States before. If the mission succeeds, it could extend Swift's scientific life by many years while proving technologies that may one day rescue other famous spacecraft, including Hubble.

The outcome will be closely watched across the global space industry. Success could transform the economics of satellite operations and usher in a new era where repairing spacecraft in orbit becomes as routine as servicing aircraft on the ground. For NASA, it is not simply about saving Swift—it is about proving that the future of space exploration may depend as much on maintaining what we already have as launching something new.

Further reading and information available here