Launch and Initial Checkout of the Psyche Spacecraft for NASA's Discovery Program

On October 13, 2023, the Psyche spacecraft was launched into space from Kennedy Space Center. This paper provides an overview of the Psyche project and its progression through launch and its first six month of operations in space. It describes preparations for launch, initial testing, and operations of the spacecraft, including in-space tests of the spacecraft’s unique power and electric propulsion system, validation of its all-electric 3-axis momentum management strategy, and demonstration of the Deep Space Optical Communications technology payload. Psyche is the first mission to use Hall thrusters for interplanetary travel and carries NASA’s first optical communications demonstration from Mars distances. It has successfully completed its initial checkout phase and transitioned to cruise operations as it starts its journey to (16) Psyche.