Hubble Space Telescope Daily Report #2873 – 16 May 2001

HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE

DAILY REPORT #2873

PERIOD COVERED: 0000Z (UTC) 05/15/01 – 0000Z (UTC) 05/16/01

Daily Status Report as of 136/0000Z

1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED:

1.1 Completed STIS/CCD/MA2 8672 (Establishing the Gaseous Phases of
Galaxies Following the Epoch of Star Formation)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA2) was used in
an ambitious program designed to: {1} establish if high ionization,
metal-rich halos/coronae were in place as early as z~1, which would imply
that extended, early-epoch, galactic halos result from reprocessed galactic
gas and that the kinematics are mechanically driven; {2} obtain the first
comparison of the relative kinematics of low and high ionization species in
z~1 galaxies, covering a wide range of N{HI} environments and MgII
kinematic spreads up to ~400 km/s; {3} discriminate between single-phase
and multi-phase ionization, and therefore spatial, absorbing structures
{eg. MgII clouds embedded in diffuse high ionization halos}; and {4} place
constraints on the gas-phase metallicites in early-epoch galaxies. The
observations complete with no reported problems.

1.2 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.

1.3 Completed Two 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.

1.4 Completed STIS/MA2 8590 (UV Imaging and Spectroscopy of Luminous
Blue Compact Galaxies from z=0 to z=1)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (MA2) was used to observe
two well-defined samples of low-mass starburst galaxies, one in the local
universe {z<0.1} and another at intermediate redshifts {0.2 < z < 0.7}. Both samples show optical sizes, morphologies, emission line widths, and luminosities comparable to those of LBGs at z=3, and are therefore probably the best local analogs and testbeds for further study of LBGs. Our main goals are to: {1} explore the morphologies, surface brightness distributions, and half-light radii of nearby starforming galaxies in the FUV, near Ly-alpha; {2} search for systematic differences among UV, optical, and near-IR morphologies and structural parameters; {3} investigate the intrinsic emission and absorption spectra near Ly-alpha of starbursting dwarf galaxies, with special attention to Ly- alpha profiles and interstellar and stellar photospheric absorption from Si II, O I, C II, Si IV, and C IV; {4} measure their FUV-optical colors and dust extinction properties; and {5} test the hypothesis that low-mass starbursts are the local counterparts of LBGs. The observation completed normally.

1.5 Completed STIS/CCD 8840 (Read Noise Monitor)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to measure
the read noise of all the amplifiers on the STIS CCD using pairs of bias
frames. Full frame and binned observations are made in both Gain 1 and
Gain 4, with binning factors of 1 x 1, 1 x 2, 2 x 1 and 2 x 2. All
exposures are internals. The observations completed with no reported problems.

1.6 Completed Three Sets of STIS/CCD 9248 (Probing the Large Scale
Structure: Cosmic Shear Observations)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to measure
the distortion of light bundles from distant galaxies that probe the
statistical properties of the intervening inhomogeneous {dark} matter
distribution. Its tidal gravitational field distorts the observable image
shapes thereby causing a coherent ellipticity pattern {Cosmic Shear}. The
observations completed nominally.

1.7 Completed WF/PC-2 8677 (Extragalactic Novae: the Maximum Magnitude
– Rate of Decline Relation in NGC 4472)

The WF/PC-2 was used to accomplish two goals: {1} to provide the
first homogeneous observational constraints on theoretical models for novae
outbursts; and {2} to assess the reliability of novae as standard candles
by using WFPC2 to collect well sampled light curves for 20-50 novae in the
supergiant elliptical galaxy NGC 4472, the brightest galaxy within 30
Mpc. Both the length of the observing window and the temporal sampling of
the observations are specifically designed to ensure that the novae peak
magnitudes and decline rates are measured accurately. These data will be
used to construct the first `Maximum Magnitude versus Rate of Decline’
{MMRD} relation for a galaxy beyond the Local Group. This relation is not
only a potentially powerful standard candle, but its shape and dispersion
are directly linked to physical parameters which govern the physics of
novae outbursts such as the white dwarf mass, temperature and mass
accretion rate. The proposal completed with no reported problems.

1.8 Completed Three Sets of STIS/MA1/MA2 8843 (Cycle 9 MAMA Dark
Measurements)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (MA1 and MA2) was used to
perform the routine monitoring of the MAMA detector dark noise. The
proposal completed nominally.

1.9 Completed FGS 8774 (Calibrating the Mass-Luminosity Relation at the
End of the Main Sequence)

The Fine Guidance Sensors were used to calibrate the
mass-luminosity relation {MLR} for stars less massive than 0.2 Msun, with
special emphasis on objects near the stellar/brown dwarf border. Our goals
are to determine Mv values to 0.10 magnitude, masses to 5%, and more than
double the number of objects with masses determined to be less than 0.20
Msun. The proposal completed with no reported problems.

1.10 Completed STIS/CCD 8845 (Spectroscopic Flats C9)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to obtain
CCD flats in the spectroscopic mode. The observations completed with no
reported problems.

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

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to make
observations of star NGC7078-CE as part of the study of the nuclear
kinematics of the dense globular cluster M-15. The high central density of
M-15 makes it unique for probing the structure and evolution of globular
clusters. The observations were completed as planned, and no anomalies
were reported.

2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:

2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions:

Scheduled Acquisitions: 7

Successful: 7

Scheduled Re-acquisitions: 6

Successful: 6

2.2 FHST Updates:

Scheduled: 19

Successful: 19

2.3 Operations Notes:

The SSR EDAC error counter was cleared twice, per ROP SR-1A.

Using ROP DF-01A, the 486 memory was dumped at 135/1511Z.

A flight software (FSW) patch to modify the Minimum Magnetic Field
Vector Magnitude Squared Threshold was successfully performed at 135/1503Z
per an operations request.

The Battery State-of-Charge Benchmark FSW patch was uplinked at
135/1508Z. This patch changes current value of 410.0 Amp-hr to 350.0
Amp-hr. Another operations request changed the CCS ground system FSW
six-battery benchmark state-of-charge (SOC) to low=295 and high=380
Amp-hr. The EPS SE verified that the FSW SOC updated with the new
benchmark SOC value at trickle charge initiation at 135/1527Z.

The NSSC-1 status buffer was dumped at 135/1647Z as directed by ROP
NS-03.

As documented in HSTAR 8221, the STIS instrument autonomously safed
at 136/055210Z while the HST was in a ZOE. The subsequently-received
NSSC-1 status buffer messages indicated that there had been an indication
of a “bad FSW mode” at 136/055210Z.

SSA transmitter #1 was turned on at 136/074208Z and turned off at
136/075915Z, using ROP IC-2.

3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS:

Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations.