Hubble Space Telescope Daily Report #2874 – 17 May 2001

HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE

DAILY REPORT #2874

PERIOD COVERED: 0000Z (UTC) 05/16/01 – 0000Z (UTC) 05/17/01

Daily Status Report as of 137/0000Z

1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED:

1.1 Completed Two Sets of STIS/CCD 8864 (CCD Dark Monitor-Part 2)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to monitor
the darks for the CCD. The proposal completed nominally.

1.2 Completed STIS/CCD 8663 (Survey of SMC Planetary Nebulae: Nebular
and Stellar Evolution in a Low- Metallicity Environment)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to survey
of SMC planetary nebulae {PNe} in order to study the co-evolution of the
nebulae and their central stars, in an environment that is chemically very
metal poor. We will obtain STIS imaging and medium-resolution slitless
spectroscopy that will yield line fluxes and nebular morphologies in
important emission lines, plus magnitudes of the central stars. From these
data we will gather a harvest of information: the nebular size, morphology,
ionization structure, density, and mass; and the central star temperature,
luminosity, and mass. The proposal completed with no reported anomalies.

1.3 Completed STIS/CCD 8700 (A STIS Spectroscopic Snapshot Survey of
3CR Radio Galaxies : The Nature of the Unresolved Nuclei)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to perform
STIS snapshot long-slit spectroscopy of these nuclei over 2900- 10300 AA to
classify them {QSO, NLRG, BLRG, BL Lac, ldots} and establish their AGN
characteristics down to the lowest nuclear luminosities, while still within
powerful 3C radio galaxies. The primary goals are : {1} to test
unification schemes by identifying previously undetected signatures of
low-level AGN/QSO activity in their spectra in the form of weak, broad
emission lines, featureless continua, and UV excess, {2} to constrain the
FR I/BL Lac connection by measuring the relative contribution of thermal
{starburst}, non-thermal {optical synchrotron}, and line emission, and {3}
to perform line and continuum diagnostics to determine the dominant
ionization mechanisms in the circumnuclear regions {tenths of arcseconds}
and the role of dust extinction in the NLRGs and BLRGs in the form of
geometrically thick or thin tori and foreground dust. The proposal
completed as planned, with no reported anomalies.

1.4 Completed Five Sets of WF/PC-2 8824 (Decontaminations and
Associated Observations Pt. 3/4)

The WF/PC-2 was used for the monthly WFPC2 decons. Also included
are instrument monitors tied to decons: photometric stability check, focus
monitor, pre- and post-decon internals {bias, intflats, kspots, & darks},
UV throughput check, VISFLAT sweep, and internal UV flat check. There were
no reported problems.

1.5 Completed Three Sets of WF/PC-2 8828 (Cycle 9 Supplemental Darks pt3/3)

The WF/PC-2 was used to obtain three dark frames every day to
provide data for monitoring and characterizing the evolution of hot
pixels. The proposal completed with no reported problems.

1.6 Completed STIS/CCD 8611 (Observations of Nearby Type Ia Supernovae)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to obtain
UV spectra of five nearby {0.02 < z < 0.08} SNe Ia in the Hubble Flow. The spectra will be taken at weekly intervals over a range in time starting slightly before maximum light and extending to +30 days. These observations will accomplish the following three goals: {1} calibration of the rest frame UV light curves of SNe Ia and an assessment of their potential use as distance indicators through UV light curve shape analyses. {2} improvement in our understanding of the physics of SNe Ia, metallicity/evolutionary effects and correlations between peak brightness and UV spectral features. {3} calibration of the SNe Ia previously observed by HST at high-redshift. This data is crucial for proper cross-filter k-corrections and calibration of the supernova photometry. A little over halfway through this proposal, the STIS safing event occurred at 136/055215Z, affecting all observations after that point.

1.7 Completed FGS/1 9240 (Astrometric Mass Determination of an
Extrasolar Planet Candidate)

Fine Guidance Sensor-1R was used to perform astrometric
observations that will allow a quick measure of the sky-plane motion of 55
Cancri, a G star with an Msin{i} = 0.9 MJ radial velocity companion with a
14 day period. By using 7 pairs of visits, where each visit within a pair
has the same parallax factor, we will be able to accurately determine the
stars’s proper motion. The reflex motion of the star, due to its orbit
about the star-companion barycenter, will manifest itself as a systematic
residual to the measured proper motion if the companion is sufficiently
massive. There were no reported problems.

1.8 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2 9244 (POMS Test Proposal: WFII
Parallel Archive Proposal Continuation)

The WF/PC-2 was used to perform a generic target version of the
Archival Pure Parallel program. The program will be used to take parallel
images of random areas of the sky, following the recommendations of the
Parallels Working Group. The observations completed with no anomalous
activity.

1.9 Completed WF/PC-2 9249 (POMS Test Proposal: WFII Backup Parallel
Archive Proposal II)

The WF/PC-2 was used to execute a POMS test proposal designed to
simulate scientific plans. The proposal completed with no reported problems.

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The following scheduled proposals were not completed successfully due to
the STIS safing event:

STIS/CCD 8865 (Bias Monitor-Part 2)

Two Sets of STIS/MA1 8643 (Ultraviolet Properties of the Metal Rich M87
Globular Cluster System)

STIS/CCD/MA2 8681 (Snapshot Survey of Variability of Narrow and Broad
Associated Absorption Lines in Quasars)

Three Sets of STIS/CCD 8845 (Spectroscopic Flats C9)

STIS/CCD 8687 (Elliptical Galaxies With Nuclear Disks of Stars: Black Hole
Search and Stellar Populations)

STIS/CCD 8262 (Nuclear Kinematics of the Dense Globular Cluster M-15)

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2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:

2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions:

Scheduled Acquisitions: 6

Successful: 6

Scheduled Re-acquisitions: 8

Successful: 8

2.2 FHST Updates:

Scheduled: 16

Successful: 16

2.3 Operations Notes:

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) remains in
safe. The safing event occurred at 136/055215Z. Analyses indicate that a
fuse on the STIS power input line (spacecraft side) has failed. There is a
redundant power path into the STIS. That path is active now, but only to
supply heaters to keep the STIS warm. It is possible to switch all the
equipment in the STIS to the redundant path. But, until it has been
determined what may have caused the failure, the transfer of STIS to the
redundant side will be delayed. Meetings to determine the safest method of
returning STIS to an operational state are on-going, although it now
appears likely that switching over to the redundant power feed may take
several weeks in order to carry out the ground testing of the procedures,
verify the flight software loads, and make other necessary
changes. Schedulers at the STScI are rebuilding next week’s observing
calendar to include only WF/PC-2 observations.

The STIS safing event took place during the proposal described in
1.6. Scheduled STIS proposals not completed successfully are listed at the
bottom of those that did in Section 1.

Using ROP SR-1A, the SSR EDAC error counter was cleared five times.

HSTAR 8223 reports that the parameter OPSSCV2 flagged out-of-limits
high at 136/214903Z and was back within normal ranges at
136/214933Z. Later, the parameter was out-of-limits high for the interval
136/215233Z to 136/215333Z.

HSTAR 8224 documents an out-of-limits low condition for OOBBHT6T
beginning at 136/221217Z, hitting 10.875 degrees. Operations personnel are
monitoring. Further action will be taken should the parameter drop to 5
degrees.

The NSSC-1 status buffer was dumped at 137/0001Z per ROP
NS-03. Later, at 137/0324Z, the status buffer was dumped and cleared,
using the same ROP.

3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS:

Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations.