Psyche Mission Transition to Operations IEPC-2024-225

The Psyche spacecraft launched on October 13, 2023 on a mission to rendezvous and orbit the main belt asteroid 16 Psyche. During the initial checkout phase (October 2023 - January 2024) and the subsequent interplanetary cruise (ongoing), electric propulsion thrusting using SPT-140 Hall thrusters represents the first time Hall thrusters have been used in interplanetary space. Orbital operations starting in 2029 will include four distinct science orbits interspersed with electric propulsion orbit transfers. The pre-launch mission plan has proven resilient to information learned during initial operations, but the operations team has updated the plan in response to information learned so far during mission operations. This paper provides an updated summary of the Psyche mission plan, including changes due to the delay of launch date from October 2022 to October 2023 and significant adjustments made in response to the final months of development and the first half year of operations. Furthermore, this paper highlights the planning complexities of electric propulsion activities and offers lessons learned for future low thrust missions.