NASA's Mars Helicopter Breaks Silence, Phones Home After 63 Days

NASA has restored contact with its Mars helicopter, Ingenuity, after a nine-week communication outage caused by a hill blocking the link between the helicopter and the Mars rover, Perseverance. The team at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory was able to confirm that Ingenuity successfully landed after its 52nd flight, covering a distance of 1,191 feet. If Ingenuity passes checks, it will embark on its 53rd flight in the coming weeks. The helicopter has exceeded expectations and proven the viability of flight technology on Mars, paving the way for future missions.