Joe Palka

But a variety of factors led NASA to scrub those plans.

For a while, it wasn't clear how or whether Escapade would get to Mars, but ultimately NASA decided to put the probes back on the New Glenn rocket.

Once at Mars, ESCAPADE will make measurements that will help scientists understand how charged particles from the sun affect the thin Martian atmosphere.

The twin probes will let scientists create 3D images of how those particles are deflected around Mars by the planet's magnetic field.

For NPR News, I'm Joe Palka.