Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) refers to a group of rare genetic bone disorders that results in the formation of fragile bones. In patients with OI, the matrix that makes up the bone has been found to be abnormal, leading to an increased risk of fractures. Genetic mutations affecting collagen matrix protein biosynthesis in osteoblasts, or bone-forming cells, have been implicated in OI. However, the role of osteocytes-mature bone cells derived from osteoblasts-in OI pathogenesis remains unclear.
Specificity protein 7 (Sp7), encoded by Sp7 gene is an important transcription factor that regulates the formation of healthy bones. Recent studies in patients with OI have revealed that rare SP7 mutations, such as the substitution of arginine with cysteine (R316C), can result in lower number of osteocytes or abnormal osteocyte morphology within bone tissue.
To shed light on the underlying mechanisms involved in OI, caused by Sp7 R316C mutation, a team of researchers led by Dr. Jialiang S. Wang from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, USA and Dr. Marc N. Wein from the Endocrine Unit of Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, USA has conducted an in-depth study using a novel mouse model. In their study, they developed a genetically modified mouse model containing the Sp7 R342C mutation (the arginine amino acid is located at position 342 in mice). Their research findings were published online on July 19, 2025 in Volume 13 of the journal Bone Research.
Initially, the scientists employed an advanced gene editing technique called iGONAD to generate mice with the Sp7R342C mutation. Examination of the femur bone of mutant mice via micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) revealed reduced bone mineral density, a lower trabecular bone volume fraction, and increased cortical porosity-pores or channels in the outer layer of the bone. “These findings are consistent with skeletal phenotypes observed in patients with homozygous Sp7 R316C mutation,” says Dr. Wang, explaining the advantages of using this mutant mouse model for studying OI.
Subsequently, the research team delved into the bone-remodeling process in Sp7R342C mice. Bone remodeling typically involves the degradation of mature and mineralized bone tissue by osteoclasts (special cells that dissolve damaged and old bone tissue) followed by formation of new bone matrix by osteoblasts. Interestingly, in mice with the Sp7R342C mutation, an abnormal bone-remodeling process with increased intracortical bone resorption and formation was observed.
Furthermore, the number of osteocyte dendrites-elongated structures that help in regulation of bone remodeling-was reduced in the mutant mice. Additional genomic analysis of cells obtained from the outer layer of the humerus bone revealed that tumor necrosis factor superfamily member 11 (Tnfsf11) gene, important for osteoclast formation and bone-resorption activity, was highly expressed in mutant mice. Alarmingly, apoptosis (programmed cell death) of osteocytes was elevated in these mutant mice.
The scientists then turned their attention to ribonucleic acid sequencing (RNA-seq) to identify the specific genes that were dysregulated by the R342C mutation. Comprehensive RNA-seq analysis of bone cells isolated from the humerus of female mutant mice showed that 1,079 genes were up-regulated and 920 genes were down-regulated. Notably, 22 osteocyte-related genes were dysregulated in the mutant mice.
Finally, to clarify the relationship between osteocyte dendrite defects and abnormal bone resorption in Sp7R342C mice, the researchers injected mutant mice with osteoprotegerin-Fc (OPG-Fc). Sharing further details about the study, Dr. Wein says, “It is not known whether osteocyte morphology defects and apoptosis drive bone resorption, or whether increased osteoclast activity drives osteocyte morphology defects”. Following treatment with OPG-Fc to inhibit the bone-resorption process, cortical porosity was reduced in mutant mice, but the osteocyte dendrite defects could not be repaired.
In summary, the development of this mutant mouse model to study OI provides an experimental platform to investigate the molecular mechanisms involved in bone defects and can help facilitate the discovery of novel therapeutic approaches for treating bone disorders.
Source:
Journal reference:
Wang, J. S., et al. (2025) Osteoclast-independent osteocyte dendrite defects in mice bearing the osteogenesis imperfecta-causing Sp7 R342C mutation. Bone Research. doi.org/10.1038/s41413-025-00440-1.
Whether you’re looking for a replacement laptop for web browsing and streaming or your high school or college-aged kids need a decent (and affordable) PC for class, the HP OmniBook 5 offers plenty of power and performance to handle everything from spreadsheets and Netflix to video calls and virtual classes. And right now when you buy directly from HP, you can save 60%, bringing the price to just $400. But you’ll have to hurry if you want to take advantage of this deal — it ends at midnight tonight.
Also: The best HP laptops you can buy
This laptop is built with an Intel Core i5-1334U processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. While it won’t blow you away with performance or processing power, it has plenty of juice to handle casual home use, typical office work, or classroom assignments. While the RAM is hardwired into the laptop and unable to be upgraded, you can drop in a bigger SSD or pick up an external storage drive to offload photos, videos, and large documents to free up space on the integrated drive. And with the older 13th-gen Intel Core CPU, you won’t have to worry about disabling any integrated AI apps or programs (which is great news for anyone looking to avoid integrating CoPilot into their device ecosystem).
Read more: This HP OmniBook finally sold me on the 2-in-1 laptop design
The 16-inch screen gives you 1920 x 1200 resolution, while an anti-glare coating helps improve visibility in harsh overhead or natural lighting. You’ll also get rich, full audio with DTS:X Ultra sound processing and HP’s Audio Boost technology so you can enjoy streaming music and movies as well as clearly hear speakers during virtual classes or work calls.
Where this laptop really shines is with its battery life. On a full charge, you’ll get up to 34 hours of use. This means you can work and stream for about a day and a half before you need to worry about topping up your battery. And when you do need to plug in, the HP OmniBook 5 supports fast charging, giving you about 50% battery in just 30 minutes. This is perfect for students and office workers who forgot to charge overnight and need to quickly top up before class or an important meeting.
Looking for the next best product? Get expert reviews and editor favorites with ZDNET Recommends.
How I rated this deal
While this configuration for the HP OmniBook 5 isn’t the most robust on offer, it still has plenty of processing power and storage space for casual home use, typical office work, and even students. With a 512GB SSD storage drive, 13th-generation Intel Core i5 processor, and a 16-inch display, you’ll be able to tackle everything from spreadsheets to virtual classes. And with a 60% discount, it’s an incredible value on a laptop from a trusted brand like HP. That’s why I gave it a 5/5 Editor’s Choice rating.
HP is running a limited flash sale on the OmniBook 5, offering 60% off until midnight on Aug. 13, 2025. However, the deal may end earlier if HP sells out of units.
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Microsoft is adding the ability to download ARM64 compatible games to its Xbox app for Windows on Arm. Windows Insiders can now test a new update to the Xbox app that lets them install games locally, instead of having to rely on Xbox Cloud Gaming.
Currently, the Xbox app on devices like the Qualcomm-powered Surface Pro 12 will only let you play cloud games from Microsoft’s Xbox Cloud Gaming service. This new Xbox update will mean some ARM64 games from PC Game Pass or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will be available on Qualcomm-powered devices for the first time.
Microsoft says its Windows and Xbox teams are working together on this Xbox app effort to ensure it has compatibility across the Game Pass catalog, and it’s also “developing new features that will enable more games to be played on Arm-based Windows 11 PCs in the coming months.”
Microsoft originally released an ARM64 version of its Xbox app in 2022, but there weren’t enough games natively compiled for Windows on Arm. These days you can just check the Windows on Arm ready site to see which games run well.
Whether paired with jeans, skirts, tailored trousers, or dresses, the best loafers for women transcend trends, working with just about everything in your wardrobe year-round. As we move from summer into early fall, they’re the perfect match for pre-fall staples—think crisp shirting, lightweight outerwear, and classic denim.
On Miu Miu’s Fall 2025 runway, a sleeker take on the preppy staple stole the spotlight: the smooth penny loafer. It retains the shape of its traditional namesake but swaps in a streamlined, minimalist shaft. Also in the mix for fall? Warm suede finishes, supple leather styles, and heeled versions that pair beautifully with a midi skirt or dress. With transitional outfits in mind, there’s no better time to embrace the loafer’s versatility. Read on for Vogue’s edit of the best pairs to wear now.
Vogue’s Guide to the Best Loafers for Women
Featured in this article
Best Classic
G.H.Bass Weejuns penny loafers
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Classic Penny Loafers
Classic penny loafers are a no-brainer investment that work with everything from denim to tailoring, and only get better with wear. You’ll find great options from heritage shoe makers, like Church’s and G.H. Bass, and fashion brands alike.
Church’s
Pembrey W leather loafers
Smooth Penny Loafers
The newest twist on this preppy icon comes courtesy of Prada and Miu Miu, where sleek, unstitched shafts walked the runways. The smooth loafer is streamlined enough to feel modern, but still grounded in tradition.
Everlane
leather day driver loafers
Suede Loafers
Slightly softer and slightly more luxe, suede loafers bring texture and warmth to any fall palette, and compliment a wide range of outfits (and personal styles). They’re more delicate than their leahter counterparts, so coat them in a protective spray if you plan to wear them in the rain.
ATP Atelier
Airola walnut suede flats
Soft Loafers
Supple, glove-like leather from brands like Khaite, The Row, and Jamie Haller make loafers feel more like decadent slippers.
Massimo Dutti
brushed leather mule loafers
Bougeotte
flaneur suede penny loafers
Boat Loafers
Since their entry into the fashion category at Miu Miu, boat-shoe style loafers have continued to make a splash. They lend an insouciant, off-duty edge to classic fall looks.
Aritzia
x Sperry authentic boat shoes
Patent Loafers
High-shine patent loafers offer a more fashion-forward spin on the classic style. They’re perfect for adding interest to a minimal look or emphasizing an eye-catching ensemble.
Dries Van Noten
patent crinkled-leather loafers
Jil Sander
crinkled glossed-leather loafers
Loewe
Campo croc-effect leather loafers
Heeled Loafers
A slight lift, whether block-heeled or a little higher, takes the loafer from day to night without sacrificing its grounded sensibility.
Church’s
Prudence glossed-leather loafers
3.1 Phillip Lim
Nadia heeled loafers 35mm
Burberry
leather cadet heeled loafers
Bottega Veneta
Astaire knot bit loafer pumps
Gucci
loafer pump with horsebit
Driving Shoes
The quintessential driving style includes flexible, rubber-pebbled soles built for the pedal, but they’re just as chic off-road with cropped denim or a classic trouser.
Australia’s Brendan Creevey and Shane Lee were the joint-top wicket-takers in the series with nine scalps each. Harbhajan Singh and Dodda Ganesh were India’s best bowlers, having taken eight wickets apiece.
Even though the series may not have had as much of an impact as the ICC would have wanted to and stayed on the fringes of American consciousness at best, the early seeds for cricket’s foray into the US, which was realised in the form of the 2024 T20 World Cup, had been planted.
Australia A vs India A 1999 series brief cricket scores
Match 1: Australia A 192/7 in 47 overs (Andrew Symonds 77; Dodda Ganesh 3/36) beat India A 115/10 in 34.1 overs (Devang Gandhi 15; Brendan Creevey 3/22) by 77 runs.
Match 2: Australia A 129/10 in 35 overs (Corey Richards 22; Sridharan Sriram 4/23) lost to India A 133/5 in 30.1 overs (Mohammad Kaif 38; Gerard Denton 2/30) by five wickets
Match 3: Australia A 160/9 in 40 overs (Corey Richards 34; Virender Sehwag 2/13) beat India A 62/10 in 23 overs (Devang Gandhi 9, Vijay Bharadwaj 9; Andrew Symonds 6/14) by 98 runs
Match 4: India A 128/10 in 38.1 overs (VVS Laxman 45; Brett Lee 4/32) lost to Australia A 131/1 in 19.3 overs (Ryan Campbell 61*; Sridharan Sriram 1/26) by nine wickets
Match 5: India A 121/10 in 44.3 overs (Devendra Bundela 43; Brendan Creevey 3/13) lost to Australia A 115/5 (revised target) in 23.1 overs (Andrew Symonds 62*; Harbhajan Singh 2/37) by five wickets
Interestingly, all matches were fairly low-scoring affairs with batters struggling to cope with the underprepared surface at the Woodley Cricket Field.
Before 1999, LA did have occasional brushes with international cricket stars in exhibition matches.
While Border played a match in preparation for the Ashes tour in LA in 1983, Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar was involved in several exhibition matches on makeshift pitches during the 1970s and 80s in New Jersey, Washington DC, Philadelphia and Los Angeles.
Like in 1999, the pitches were a tad suspect and not always at the best of venues.
“There were no turf pitches there so a mat would be put on the ground and we would play on that,” Gavaskar recalled during an interview with Economic Times. “Most games were in a park, not a proper ground, till 1989, when we played in baseball stadia.”
In 2015, a host of retired cricket stars descended on LA for the third match of a three-match Cricket All-Stars Series between two teams spearheaded by the legendary Sachin Tendulkar and Shane Warne at the iconic Dodger Stadium in front of over 20,000 fans.
Warne’s Warriors already had an unassailable 2-0 lead heading into the final match of the series and would win in LA to complete a clean sweep.
The 1999 Moov America Challenge might have slipped under the radar globally, but for Los Angeles it was a rare taste of high-level cricket.
As the city prepares to host the sport at LA 2028 in what will be a landmark moment for both cricket and the Olympics, the once-forgotten footnote takes on far greater significance.
The Board of Intermediate Education Karachi (BIEK) has announced that the mark sheets for the Intermediate Part-II Science Pre-Medical Group Annual Examinations 2025 are ready for distribution. The result for the Pre-Medical Group was officially announced on August 9, 2025.
According to the board, representatives of colleges and higher secondary schools can collect the mark sheets from the relevant BIEK section starting Wednesday, August 13, 2025. They must present an authority letter from the principal to receive the documents. This process applies to all affiliated institutions under the Karachi board.
For private candidates in the pre-medical group, the board has already dispatched mark sheets to the addresses provided during the registration process. Candidates are advised to ensure they have provided accurate contact details to avoid delays in receiving their documents.
Nick Ames was at the Stadio Friuli in Udine. His report has landed, and here it is. Congratulations to Paris Saint-Germain, commiserations to Tottenham Hotspur, and thank you, dear reader, for joining us on the MBM.
A philosophical Thomas Frank speaks to TNT Sports. “We played a very good game against one of the best teams in the world, maybe the best at this moment in time … we had them exactly where we wanted them for 80-something minutes … then it shifted momentum … but so many positives … so proud of the team, the players, the club, the fans … there is a lot to be happy with … it’s a flip of a coin when you go to a penalty shootout … we showed we could be tactical and pragmatic … high pressure … low defending … the first half was top, almost perfect … set pieces very good and dangerous … they are key, for any team they should be a weapon … it’s a key area … we showed we can play against any team in the world … that’s a positive to take away from this … we would like to strengthen the squad … in general I am happy with the squad … but we can make it stronger … there will be a little bit of disappointment for 24 hours … but tomorrow afternoon we will be ready … on Friday we will be more ready … then we will come flying out on Saturday [at home to Burnley in the Premier League opener].”
So, then, those pre-match white suits proved a sickening harbinger after all. Did the Spice Boys suffer for nothing?
Post-match postbag. “We were best for maybe 50 or 60 minutes of that match, so that hurt, a lot more than I expected it to. I think that’s a very good sign. If we feel devastated after losing to PSG (the team that won the European Cup 5-0 just a few months ago), it shows we’ve already rid ourselves to some extent of the terrible malaise and despair that infected the supporters at the tail end of Ange’s tenure, Europa League excluded. At some points in the last season I genuinely only considered Southampton a match we ‘should win’, while all other matches were at best ‘we could nick it’ or worst of all, ‘we should try keep goal difference down’. The performance itself was very encouraging and from a mental point of view, what a revolution all of a sudden, even though we lost in painful fashion” – Alexandra Ashton
“Who do PSG think they are? Wrexham?” – Mary Waltz
Here come the 2025 Super Cup winners Paris Saint-Germain! Many teams would have succumbed to their supposed fate, but PSG aren’t the best team in the world for nothing. They fought their way back in style, both during the 90 minutes and the subsequent penalty shoot-out, and gold medals are their reward. Marquinhos is the last man in line, and he takes the trophy off Čeferin before gliding over to his team-mates, who have congregated on the podium. Up goes the cup, pop go the glitter guns, and PSG bounce around in delight, the first French team to lift this trophy. Spurs, understandably sullen but sporting, stick around to applaud. Congratulations to PSG!
The trophy ceremony begins with PSG lining up to applaud the officials, who get their medals from Uefa top-dog Aleksander Čeferin. Then Spurs finally haul themselves up from the turf and pick up their silver medals. They were the better team for most of the game, and still it wasn’t quite enough. But they represented their club with honour. Thomas Frank smiles wryly, but proudly, as his prize is hung around his neck.
Given how Tottenham were two goals up with five minutes plus stoppages left to play, the old jokes will surely get trotted out. Lads, you know what the internet’s like. But when the sting of defeat subsides, Spurs should take an awful lot from this match. This wasn’t a horror capitulation; they played so well for so long, and were simply undone by the team of 2025, who didn’t bring their best stuff, but suddenly clicked into top gear just in time to score a couple of extremely good goals. A world-class salvage job. And so PSG add the Super Cup to their fast-expanding roll of honour; as for Spurs, there’s renewed hope for the new season … and hey, they’ll always have Bilbao.
RESULT: Paris Saint-Germain 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur (PSG win 4-3 on pens)
PSG cavort in delight as Spurs crumple to the floor in agony. Luis Enrique makes sure to offer his commiserations to Thomas Frank, a sporting moment before wheeling away with a wide smile. PSG win their first Super Cup; Spurs, so close but yet so far, can console themselves with a performance that augurs well for their new era under Frank. But it’ll hurt them now.
Paris Saint-Germain win the shootout! Photograph: Tullio Puglia/UEFA/Getty Images
PENALTIES: PSG 4-3 Tottenham. … but now PSG have a kick to win. It’s Mendes. And he whips into the top right. The Champions League winners have turned it around in spectacular style! Twice!
PENALTIES: PSG 3-3 Tottenham. Porro has to score to keep Spurs alive. He blows out hard … takes a tippy-toe run-up … and zips a wonderful penalty into the top right. Chevalier no chance!
PENALTIES: PSG 3-2 Tottenham. Lee takes a more conventional run up and slams into the bottom left. Vicario went the wrong way.
PENALTIES: PSG 2-2 Tottenham. Tel stutters his run up, sends Chevalier the wrong way … then whips wide of the left-hand post. As egregious as the Vitinha miss.
Oh, what a dreadful penalty from Mathys Tel. Photograph: Adam Davy/PA
PENALTIES: PSG 2-2 Tottenham. Dembele takes a long run up and slips confidently into the bottom right, having sent Vicario the wrong way. For the second time this evening, PSG have recovered a 0-2 deficit.
PENALTIES: PSG 1-2 Tottenham. Van de Ven, the first-half goalscoring hero, slaps a weak penalty to the right. Chevalier guesses correctly for the third time in a row, and gets his reward this time.
PENALTIES: PSG 1-2 Tottenham. Ramos, who forced this shoot-out with that late, late equaliser, Ray Stewarts his penalty straight down the middle. Nearly takes the net off the frame. Vicario will be secretly happy to have dived out of the road of that one.
PENALTIES: PSG 0-2 Tottenham. Bentancur absolutely hammers his penalty into the left-hand side of the goal. Chevalier, who guessed correctly against Solanke to no benefit, is similarly helpless this time.
PENALTIES: PSG 0-1 Tottenham. Vitinha fires towards a whistling wall. He creeps up slowly, stutters, sends Vicario the wrong way … then slices his kick wide right, the goal gaping! Off the side of the post. What. A. Miss.
Deary me. Photograph: Adam Davy/PA
PENALTIES: PSG 0-1 Tottenham. Solanke is up first. A short run up. He whips into the top right. What a penalty.
Dominic Solanke smashes it home. Photograph: Valerio Pennicino/UEFA/Getty Images
The penalties will be taken at the Tottenham end. And Spurs will go first.
Spurs will be sick at the moment. They were so good for so long, but everything changed when Ousmane Dembélé went out to the right wing. Now their hopes of a first Super Cup rest on their ability from 12 yards. Thomas Frank gathers his players for a pep talk, perhaps reminding them that they’d have probably taken this eventuality before kick-off. With five minutes to go, maybe not so much. But here we are.
FULL TIME: Paris Saint-Germain 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur
We’re going to penalties. A wonderfully exciting denouement to a fine match.
90 min +6: Dembele loops the ball into the Spurs mixer from the right. Ramos prepares to control and slot on the penalty spot, but Danso arrives from nowhere to slide and hook clear. What drama! PSG 2-2 Spurs.
90 min +5: PSG fancy a winner. Suddenly so energetic. Hakimi crosses from the right, but this time the cross is blocked by Spence. PSG 2-2 Spurs.
GOAL! Paris Saint-Germain 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur (Ramos 90+4)
The pressure pays off, and Spurs crack. Hakimi slips Dembele into space down the right. Dembele whips a low cross into the six-yard box. Ramos stoops and flashes a header across Vicario and into the bottom left!
90 min +3: Spurs are lining up with five across the edge of their penalty box. No way out. PSG 1-2 Spurs.
90 min +2: The Spurs fans are doing their best to haul their heroes over the line. Marching in, loud and long. But the team can’t get hold of the ball. This is suddenly extremely tense, as PSG smell blood. PSG 1-2 Spurs.
90 min: Bergvall comes on for Sarr. He’ll have six additional minutes to play. PSG 1-2 Spurs.
89 min: … and the corner’s worked back to Mendes, who, from Lee territory, pings a rising drive goalwards. It flicks off Romero’s head and over the bar. Then from the resulting corner, Danso holds off Mbaye. PSG want a penalty, but they’re not getting one. Dembele is booked for telling it the way he sees it. PSG 1-2 Spurs.
88 min: Can the European champions find another goal and take this match to penalty kicks? The clock’s against them, but their tails are up. Spurs can’t get out as PSG probe hither and yon. Dembele then crosses from the right. Deflected out for a corner. Spurs living on their nerves now. PSG 1-2 Spurs.
86 min: Had that goal been coming? Possibly. PSG have certainly been the better team since the slew of substitutions. PSG 1-2 Spurs.
GOAL! Paris Saint-Germain 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur (Lee 85)
… but suddenly the dam breaks. Lee picks up possession just to the left of the Spurs D, teed up by Vitinha. He whistles a low drive through a crowded box, across Vicario, and into the bottom right! What a finish! What a finish to this match now.
PSG are right back in this. Photograph: Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images
84 min: PSG are pressing for the goal that would plant a seed of doubt in every Spurs mind. But the Europa League champions, sniffing a second major trophy in three months, hold their shape. PSG 0-2 Spurs.
82 min: Lee, having earned the free kick, blasts it straight into the wall. Straight into Porro’s face, perhaps? A loud yell. The referee immediately stops play. However the replay suggests the ball pinged off his shoulder. Saucy Porro! A trick that releases the pressure on his team. PSG 0-2 Spurs.
81 min: Lee loiters on the edge of the Spurs box. Tel, over-eager, shoves him over from behind. A free kick just to the right of the D. PSG 0-2 Spurs.
80 min: Tel replaces Kudus, who was impressive in the first half but tired a little in the second. A very promising debut. PSG 0-2 Spurs.
79 min: Vitinha drops a shoulder in the hope of making enough space for a shot, but Gray gets right up in his grille. No way through. PSG 0-2 Spurs.
77 min: Doue, who has got no change out of Porro this evening, is replaced by Gonçalo Ramos. PSG 0-2 Spurs.
75 min: Solanke and Porro nearly open PSG up down the right, but a crisp one-two isn’t quite enough to trick Mendes, who races back to put a stop to the Spurs gallop. PSG 0-2 Spurs.
73 min: Time for a drinks break. And it’s also time for the first Tottenham changes of the evening, as Richarlison and Palhinha make way for Gray and Solanke. Both Richarlison and Palhinha have been excellent. But then again, so have quite a few Spurs players. PSG 0-2 Spurs.
71 min: Ruiz buzzes down the right and cuts back for Dembele, who shanks his shot wide right. PSG 0-2 Spurs.
70 min: Doue crosses from the left to nobody in particular. Vicario claims. The French and European champs running out of ideas. “Perhaps PSG made the mistake of listening to a universal football cliche, something along the lines of ‘les gars, c’est Tottenham’,” suggests Ian Copestake. PSG 0-2 Spurs.
68 min: Barcola and Zaire-Emery are replaced by Lee and Mbaye. PSG 0-2 Spurs.
For decades, NASA built and flew its own relay orbiters and spacecraft to ferry valuable data back to Earth. Now the agency is shifting to buying connectivity as a service, much like it does for launch and astronaut transport.
That pivot has sparked a race, with major contenders pitching ways to keep Mars missions online. What’s at stake isn’t a single contract: it’s the data pipe to Mars.
This new approach, which will mix NASA assets and commercial infrastructure, would gradually replace the patchwork relay network the agency relies on today. Generally, that works by orbiters like Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and MAVEN that pick up data from rovers and landers and transmit it to the Deep Space Network’s (DSN) giant antennas on Earth.
NASA’s relay spacecraft are still healthy, but they were never meant to be a permanent backbone. The agency’s latest senior review on planetary missions calls out MAVEN’s critical role as a relay and provides steps to keep it available into the early 2030s. But eventually, this hardware will decay.
At the same time, NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) program, which manages the DSN, is looking for solutions to augment these aging assets. The aim, according to an RFP released in July and due today, is to create an interoperable marketplace where NASA can be one of many customers instead of the owner-operator.
The current request is specifically for capability studies, not immediate hardware buys. The ask is twofold: a “lunar trunkline” between the moon and Earth and end-to-end Mars communications that move data from assets on the surface, through Mars orbit, and to operations centers on Earth.
It’s a formidable challenge. Any architecture must contend with the vast distance between Earth and the moon and Mars, long latency, periodic solar interference and Earth visibility windows, and high requirements for fault-tolerant systems. That’s why NASA is asking for plans, to gauge how industry might solve these puzzles, rather than immediately jumping to procurement.
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While TechCrunch can’t confirm which companies are submitting concept proposals, a handful have already staked their place in the race.
Blue Origin just unveiled a Mars Telecommunications Orbiter built on its Blue Ring platform, pitched as maneuverable, high-performance spacecraft to support NASA missions to Mars as soon as 2028. Rocket Lab has touted its own Mars telecom orbiter concept, which the company says is a core element of its proposed architecture for the Mars Sample Return campaign.
In 2024, NASA’s Mars Exploration Program separately funded 12 short commercial services studies, including a trio of studies for next-gen relay services, to SpaceX, Lockheed Martin, and Blue Origin. SpaceX’s proposal to “adapt Earth-orbit communication satellites for Mars” will likely be derived from its Starlink internet satellite constellation.
The long-term goal is to transform the agency’s planetary exploration agenda from pure-science missions to a permanent human presence on the moon and, eventually, on Mars.
