By Alexandra Banner

Jeff Bezos' space company Blue Origin is potentially hours away from launching a massive rocket that will send twin probes to Mars. The high-stakes mission has deepened the company's rivalry with Elon Musk's SpaceX as the two compete for dominance in the commercial spaceflight industry.

Here's what else you need to know to get up to speed and on with your day.

House Speaker Mike Johnson delivers remarks to reporters on Monday on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. Tom Brenner/Getty Images

Government shutdown

The House of Representatives is preparing to vote on a measure that could end the government shutdown this week. Lawmakers are expected to consider the Senate-approved funding bill later today, though House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries believes many Democrats will strongly oppose it. On Tuesday, tensions flared during a House Rules Committee meeting as Democrats expressed frustration over the bill's failure to extend enhanced Obamacare subsidies, which help make health care coverage more affordable. Democrats proposed a three-year extension of the subsidies, but the committee rejected it. Still, analysts say the move underscores Democrats' push to keep pressure on the GOP over rising health care costs.

Air travel

A record number of air traffic controllers in the US have taken unscheduled time off in recent days, triggering long delays for travelers. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said some controllers may be calling out to protest the lack of pay during the government shutdown, while others are taking on other jobs to support their families. President Donald Trump, meanwhile, took to social media on Monday to demand that all controllers "get back to work, NOW," suggesting a $10,000 bonus for any controller who did not take time off during the shutdown. Until a deal is officially inked to end the gridlock, airlines are required to reduce flights at 40 major US airports so a limited number of controllers can manage traffic safely.

Baby formula recall

The baby formula company ByHeart said Tuesday that it has recalled all of its infant formula products in the US. This comes as the FDA and the CDC are investigating a multistate outbreak of infant botulism that may be tied to the company's US-made infant formula. At least 15 children with suspected or confirmed infant botulism had been exposed to ByHeart products, the FDA said Monday. Infant botulism happens when a baby swallows Clostridium botulinum spores, which can grow in the gut and produce botulinum neurotoxin, according to the CDC. Symptoms may include constipation, poor feeding, loss of head control, difficulty swallowing and a weak and altered cry, which can progress to difficulty breathing and respiratory arrest.

Venezuela

Venezuela says it is launching a "massive mobilization" of military personnel, weapons and equipment in response to the buildup of US warships and troops in the Caribbean Sea. Land, air, naval and reserve forces will carry out exercises today, according to the country's Defense Minister, who described the deployment as a response to the "imperialist threat" posed by the US buildup. In recent weeks, the Trump administration has carried out strikes on numerous alleged drug boats in the Caribbean, saying the operations are aimed at combating the flow of drugs into the US. However, Venezuelan officials believe the US is really trying to force regime change and remove Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro from power.

Northern Lights

A severe solar storm is painting Northern Lights in the sky as far south as Texas, Alabama, Georgia and even northern Florida. The breathtaking phenomenon occurs when charged particles from the sun interact with gases in the Earth's atmosphere, causing glowing curtains of green, red and purple light in the sky. The Space Weather Prediction Center issued a G4 "severe" geomagnetic storm watch for Tuesday and today. G4 is the second-strongest level on the five-step scale. For most people, the impacts will be limited to stunning skies, but the event may also pose risks for voltage control problems in power systems, GPS navigation errors, and intermittent issues with radio and satellite operations.

The aurora was seen in Saint Francis, Minnesota, on Tuesday night. (Ali Roux Gaudette)

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5 Things AM is edited by CNN’s Andrew Torgan.

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