  The coronagraphic instrument currently proposed for the WFIRST-AFTA mission
will be the first example of a space-based coronagraph optimized for extremely
high contrasts that are required for the direct imaging of exoplanets
reflecting the light of their host star. While the design of this instrument is
still in progress, this early stage of development is a particularly beneficial
time to consider the operation of such an instrument. In this paper, we review
current or planned operations on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and the James
Webb Space Telescope (JWST) with a focus on which operational aspects will have
relevance to the planned WFIRST-AFTA coronagraphic instrument. We identify five
key aspects of operations that will require attention: 1) detector health and
evolution, 2) wavefront control, 3) observing strategies/post-processing, 4)
astrometric precision/target acquisition, and 5) polarimetry. We make
suggestions on a path forward for each of these items.
