Launch and Initial Checkout of the Psyche Spacecraft

Psyche is a mission to explore the largest metal-rich asteroid in the Solar System. This paper provides an overview of the spacecraft and its first six months of operations in space. It describes launch operations and initial testing, including in-space tests of the spacecraft’s unique electric propulsion and power systems, demonstration of the Deep Space Optical Communications technology payload, and validation of its all-electric 3-axis momentum management strategy. Psyche has successfully completed its initial checkout phase, transitioned to cruise operations, and started its 2.2 billion mile journey to its target in the main belt, asteroid (16) Psyche.