A space company is headed to Mars this fall. No, it's not SpaceX.

During a solar storm, the sun unleashes a torrent of radiation into space. 

If you're on Earth, the planet's atmosphere and magnetic field shield you against the most harmful health impacts. But if you were on Mars some 140 million miles away, how those gusts of energy would affect you and the rest of the Red Planet are less clear. 

Scientists know Mars once had a much thicker atmosphere, perhaps one capable of supporting life. But the planet's climate has changed dramatically over billions of years...