Hubble Space Telescope Daily Report #2926 1 Aug 2001

HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE

DAILY REPORT #2926

PERIOD COVERED: 0000Z (UTC) 07/31/01 – 0000Z (UTC) 08/01/01

Daily Status Report as of 213/0000Z

1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED:

1.1 Completed Three Sets of WF/PC-2 8815 (Cycle 9 Earth Flats)

The WF/PC-2 was used to monitor flatfield stability. This proposal
obtains sequences of Earth streak flats to construct high quality flat
fields for the WF/PC-2 filter set. These flat fields will allow mapping of
the OTA illumination pattern and will be used in conjunction with previous
internal and external flats to generate new pipeline superflats. The
proposal completed nominally.

1.2 Completed WF/PC-2 8600 (Dwarf Elliptical Galaxy Snapshot Survey III)

The WF/PC-2 was used to extend our V and I snapshot survey of
nearby dwarf elliptical {dE} galaxies to include a sample of 30 bright dE
with significant globular cluster {GC} populations. There were no reported
problems.

1.3 Completed Four Sets of STIS/CCD 8808 (POMS Test Proposal: STIS
Non-Scripted Parallel Proposal Continuation III)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to make
non-scripted, parallel observations as part of a POMS test proposal. The
observations completed with no anomalous activity.

1.4 Completed WF/PC-2 8598 (Snapshot Survey of Extended OIIl Lambda
5007Angstrom Emission in Seyfert Galaxies)

The WF/PC-2 was used for a snapshot survey of narrow band OIII
Lambda 5007Angstrom images for a well defined sample of 88 Seyfert galaxies
{29 Seyfert 1s and 59 Seyfert 2s}, 18 of which already have data in the
archive, selected from a mostly isotropic property, the 60Mum flux. These
data will be used: 1} to determine the origin of the misalignment between
the accretion disk axis and the host galaxy plane axis, which can be due to
mergers with other galaxies, or by the self induced radiation warping; 2}
to compare the size and shape of the Narrow Line Regions (NLR) of Seyfert
1s and Seyfert 2s, and to study the frequency of conically shaped NLR in
Seyfert galaxies, which are usually unresolved from ground-based
observations; and 3} estimate the importance of shocks to the ionization of
the NLR. The observations completed with no reported problems.

1.5 Completed Two 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.

1.6 Completed WF/PC-2 9057 (Host Galaxies of Obscured QSOs Identified
by 2MASS)

The WF/PC-2 was used to perform a snapshot survey of red QSOs
discovered in The Two Micron All Sky Survey {2MASS} to investigate the
detailed properties of their host galaxies. This large, possibly dominant,
population of QSOs in the local universe has been previously overlooked
because reddening by {intrinsic} obscuration along our line of sight causes
their colors to be too red for identification by traditional “UV- excess”
techniques. Their near-IR colors are similar to PG- type {UV-excess} QSOs,
but it is far from certain whether they are indeed from the same parent
population or represent a completely new class of QSO. There were no
reported problems.

1.7 Completed WF/PC-2 9124 (Mid-UV SNAPSHOT Survey of Nearby
Irregulars: Galaxy Structure and Evolution Benchmark)

The WF/PC-2 was used to investigate the relation between star
formation and the global physical characteristics of galaxies to interpret
the morphologies of distant galaxies in terms of their evolutionary
status. Distant galaxies are primarily observed in their rest frame
mid-ultraviolet. They resemble nearby late-type galaxies, but are they
really physically similar classes of objects? It is proposed to address
this question through a SNAPSHOT survey in the 2 mid-UV filter F300W of 98
nearby late-type, irregular and peculiar galaxies. No problems were reported.

1.8 Completed STIS/CCD 8865 (Bias Monitor-Part 2)

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 anomalous activity.

1.9 Completed 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.

1.10 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2 9060 (Photometry of a Statistically
Significant Sample of Kuiper Belt Objects)

The WF/PC-2 was used to propel the physical study of KBOs forward
by performing accurate photometry at V, R, and I on a sample of up to 150
KBOs. The sample is made up of objects that will be observed at thermal
infrared wavelengths by SIRTF and will be used with those data to derive
the first accurate diameters and albedos for a large sample of KBOs. The
observations completed nominally.

1.11 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 9053 (The Late Evolution of Low-Mass Stars:
a Deep UV Color-Magnitude Diagram of M32)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used to
construct a deep far-UV color-magnitude diagram of the hot stellar
population in the center of M32 {NGC221}. The previous Cycle 7 near-UV
STIS observations of the M32 core resolved 8000 stars in a single
bandpass. While these observations provided no color information, they
nonetheless showed conclusively that hot horizontal branch {HB} stars exist
in M32. Moreover, the near-UV luminosity function showed a surprising lack
of post-asymptotic giant branch {post-AGB} stars, indicating that they
evolve much more rapidly than expected from canonical theory. Obtaining
color information is the vital next step in extending this analysis. There
were no reported problems.

1.12 Completed WF/PC-2 8059 (POMS Test Proposal: Targeted Parallel
Archive Proposal)

The WF/PC-2 was used to observe the parallel opportunities
available in the neighborhood of bright galaxies are treated in a slightly
different way from the normal pure parallels. Local Group galaxies offer
the opportunity for a closer look at young stellar
populations. Narrow-band images in F656N can be used both to identify
young stars via their emission lines, and to map the gas distribution in
star-forming regions. The observations completed nominally.

2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:

2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions:

Scheduled Acquisitions: 7

Successful: 7

Scheduled Re-acquisitions: 8

Successful: 8

2.2 FHST Updates:

Scheduled: 21

Successful: 21

2.3 Operations Notes:

Using ROP SR-1A, the SSR EDAC error counter was cleared six
times. Per HSTAR 8291, excessive EDAC errors (303) during a SSR dump at
212/194100Z necessitated a re-transmit ( at 212/2212Z using ROP
SR-2A). That dump resulted in 549 errors. Earlier, ROP-2A was used to
re-dump engineering data at 212/0921Z. On each of the re-dump occasions
ROP SR-2A was utilized to re-configure the TRI module.

The STIS MCE-1 reset at 213/020132Z while the low voltage was on
and while inside an SAA interval. ROP NS-12 was used to reset the STIS
flight software error counter at 213/0225Z. MAMA-1 will be recovered at
213/1648Z, the time of the next SMS high voltage commanding.

SI C&DH errors were rest at 213/0331Z per ROP NS-5.

3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS:

Nominal Trim Relay Software Charge Control configuration, from two
to three batteries, will be restored (at approximately 213/15000Z) since
the most recent high high sun-time period (days.190-205) is over. The CCC
5 K2 V/T Level will be left at Level 5 in an attempt to help stabilize
battery 5 pressure. (Nominal configuration is K52=Level 4).

Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations.