After its fourth successful test flight, NASA is moving Ingenuity into a new phase of operations demonstrations, that of exploring how aerial scouting can assist this and future missions to Mars, and potentially other worlds.
Two more test flights are planned for Ingenuity, and then the new phase will begin. The NASA team decided to add this new phase since Perseverance is ahead of schedule in the checkout of all of its vehicle systems, and because Ingenuity’s telecommunications and inflight navigation systems have performed beyond expectations.
The new phase will include additional one-way flights, landing at a future destination of Perseverance or scouting for new areas of exploration. This will mean testing of precision maneuvering, greater use of its aerial-observation capabilities, and more risk overall.
