Mars Ingenuity helicopter takes a break after successful test flights over the Martian surface

NASA’s little Mars helicopter has been given a reprieve.

Instead of wrapping up flight tests at the beginning of May, NASA is giving its Ingenuity helicopter at least an extra month to tackle tough new terrain and serve as a scout for its companion rover, Perseverance.

Officials announced the flight extension Friday, following three short flights in under two weeks for the $85 million tech demo.

Soon afterwards, there was more good news: Ingenuity — the first powered aircraft to soar at another planet — had aced its fourth flight at Mars.

For Friday’s trip, Ingenuity travelled 266 meters at a height of 5 meters for two minutes — considerably…