Status Report

Hubble Space Telescope Daily Report #2696 08/29/00

By SpaceRef Editor
August 29, 2000
Filed under

HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE
 
  DAILY REPORT #2696
 
PERIOD COVERED:  0000Z (UTC) 08/28/00 – 0000Z (UTC) 08/29/00
 
Daily Status Report as of 242/0000Z
 
1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED:
 
    1.1 Completed STIS/CCD 8837 (CCD Dark Monitor-Part 1)
 
        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to monitor the darks.  The proposal completed with no reported problems.
 
    1.2 Completed Six Sets of WF/PC-2 8826 (Cycle 9 Supplemental Darks pt 1)
 
        The WF/PC-2 was used to perform a T dark calibration program that obtains three dark frames every day in order to provide data for monitoring and characterizing the evolution of hot pixels.  There were no reported anomalies.
 
    1.3 Completed Six Sets of STIS/CCD 8631 (Bright Quasar Close Lensing Search II)
 
        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to expand the Cycle 8 second generation HST snapshot survey of bright quasars, optimized to find lenses with component image separations < 1".  The observations completed nominally.
 
    1.4 Completed Seven Sets of WF/PC-2/STIS/CCD 8414 (STIS Sparse Field CTE test {Cycle 8))
 
        Both the WF/PC-2 and the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) were used to conduct CTE measurements using the "sparse field test", along both the serial and parallel axes.  This program needs special commanding to provide {a} off-center MSM positionings of some slits, and {b} the ability to read out with any amplifier {A, B, C, or D}.  All exposures are internals.  As described in HSTAR 7823 and the previous report, the acquisition for the fifth iteration of this proposal defaulted to fine lock backup on one FGS only, possibly affecting 24 observations.  Otherwise, the observations were completed as planned, and no further anomalies were reported.
 
    1.5 Completed Three Sets of WF/PC-2 8811 (Cycle 9 Standard Darks)
 
        The WF/PC-2 was used to obtain dark frames every week in order to provide data for the ongoing calibration of the CCD dark current rate, and to monitor and characterize the evolution of hot pixels.  Over an extended period these data will also provide a monitor of radiation damage to the CCDs.  The proposal completed with no reported problems.
 
    1.6 Completed WF/PC-2 8597 (The Fueling of Active Nuclei: Why are Active Galaxies Active?)
 
        The WF/PC-2 was used to investigate the accretion onto massive black holes which is believed to be the energy source for AGN.  However, evidence for black holes in quiescent galaxies has also been reported.  Why are these galaxies inactive?  One possibility is that active galaxies are better at providing fuel to the nuclear region than quiescent
galaxies.  Other possible fueling mechanisms such as “bars-within-bars” or nuclear spirals cannot be investigated from the ground because they are relatively small features in the ISM.  The observations were completed as planned.
 
    1.7 Completed WF/PC-2 8122 (The Evolution Of Galaxies — Mining The Stellar Content Of The Two Most Local Blue Compact Dwarf Galaxies)
 
        The WF/PC-2 was used to make high spatial resolution observations of the local, blue, compact, dwarf galaxy NGC-6789 in order to study its stellar content by obtaining a deep color-magnitude diagram.  This diagram will provide a unique laboratory for understanding the effects of starburst feedback on the interstellar meduim.  As described in HSTAR 7823 and the previous report, the acquisition for this proposal defaulted to fine lock backup on one FGS only, possibly affecting eight observations.  Otherwise, the observations were completed as planned, and no other anomalies were noted.
 
    1.8 Completed STIS/CCD 8439 (Bias Monitor-Part 2 C8)
 
        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to monitor the bias in the 1×1, 1×2, 2×1, and 2×2 bin settings at gain=1, and 1×1 at gain = 4, to build up high-S/N superbiases and track the evolution of hot columns.  The proposal completed with no reported problems.
 
    1.9 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 8149 (The Spectral Energy Distribution of a Neutron Star Photosphere)
 
        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used to make direct measurement of the radius or mass of any neutron star outside a binary system.  The proposal seeks to obtain the spectral energy distribution of the isolated neutron star, RXJ185635.  The observations completed with no reported problems.
 
    1.10 Completed Five Sets of WF/PC-2 8816 (Cycle 9 UV Earthflats)
 
        The WF/PC-2 was used to obtain sequences of earth streak flats to improve the quality of pipeline flat fields for the WFPC2 UV filter set and in order to monitor flat field stability.  There were no reported problems.
 
    1.11 Completed Five Sets of WF/PC-2 8805 (POMS Test Proposal: WFII Parallel Archive Proposal Continuation)
 
        The WF/PC-2 was used to perform a generic target version of the WFPC2 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.  The proposal completed with no reported problems.
 
    1.12 Completed STIS/CCD 8437 (Dark Monitor-Part 2 C8)
 
        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to monitor the darks.  The proposal completed nominally.
 
2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:
 
    2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions:
      Scheduled Acquisitions: 9
Successful: 9
 
  Scheduled Re-acquisitions: 9
Successful: 9
 
    2.2 FHST Updates:
Scheduled: 22
Successful: 22
 
    2.3 Operations Notes:
 
        The SSR EDAC error counter was cleared four times, using ROP SR-1A.
 
        Per an operations note, the SSA forward power (SSAFPWR) was transitioned from normal to high power mode.
 
        SI C&DH errors were reset at 241/1311Z, per ROP NS-5.
 
        Using ROP DF-18A, the engineering status buffer was dumped in order to clear the buffer.
 
        The ephemeris table was uplinked at 242/0024Z as directed by ROP DF-07B.
 
        Per ROP IC-2, SSA transmitter #1 was turned on and off at 242/0755Z and at 242/0832Z.
 
3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS:
 
        Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations.

SpaceRef staff editor.