Hubble Space Telescope Daily Report #2947 – 30 Aug 2001

HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE

DAILY REPORT #2947

PERIOD COVERED: 0000Z (UTC) 08/29/01 – 0000Z (UTC) 08/30/01

Daily Status Report as of 242/0000Z

1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED:

1.1 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 9137 (Quasar Absorbers and Large Scale
Structure)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used to
perform spectroscopy of 15 bright quasars in a 22 square degree region that
has well-sampled galaxy redshifts. No problems were encountered.

1.2 Completed Two 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.

1.3 Completed Four 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.

1.4 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.

1.5 Completed STIS/CCD/MA2 9166 (Fossil Gaseous Halos of Massive
Galaxies at z~1)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA2) was used to
observe host galaxies of high-redshift, powerful radio sources that are
likely the progenitors of present-day gE and cD galaxies, and therefore
provide important laboratories in which to investigate the formation of
massive galaxies in the early Universe. Many high-redshift radio galaxies
exhibit giant, Ly-alpha halos. Similar nebulae without associated radio
sources have recently been discovered in a galaxy overdensity at z =
3.09. The LyAlpha luminosity of these halos is comparable to the total
X-ray luminosities of low–z X–ray clusters, and may reflect the hot,
cooling gas reservoir from which the galaxy/cluster is forming. The
observations completed as planned.

1.6 Completed STIS/CCD 9070 (A Census of Nuclear Star Clusters in
Late-Type Spiral Galaxies: II. Spectroscopy and Stellar Populations)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to
investigate spiral galaxies that have a prominent star cluster in their
dynamical center. Statistics for cluster frequency, size, and luminosity
remain incomplete. The proposal completed as planned.

1.7 Completed Five Sets of STIS/CCD 9285 (POMS Test Proposal: STIS
Non-scripted Parallel Proposal Continuation III)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to make low
galactic latitude, non-scripted parallel observations as part of a POMS
test proposal. The guide star acquisition failure described in 2.1 and
HSTAR 8319 affected the first three iteration of this proposal, as the take
data flag remained down. Otherwise, the observations were completed as
planned, and no other anomalies were reported.

1.8 Completed WF/PC-2 9042 (An Archive To Detect The Progenitors Of
Massive, Core-Collapse Supernovae)

The WF/PC-2 was to be used to search for supernovae which have
massive star progenitors. The already extensive HST archive and
high-resolution ground-based images of galaxies within ~20 Mpc enables us
to resolve and quantify their individual bright stellar content. As
massive, evolved stars are the most luminous single objects in a galaxy,
the progenitors of core-collapse supernovae should be directly detectable
on pre-explosion images. One Type II progenitor has been observed this
year, and the investigators have proposed a short, companion WFPC2 proposal
to confirm this candidate and identify a second. The guide star
acquisition failure described in 2.1 and HSTAR 8319 affected this proposal,
as the take data flag remained down.

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

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was to be 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 guide star acquisition failure described in 2.1 and
HSTAR 8319 affected this proposal, as the take data flag remained down.

1.10 Completed WF/PC-2 9071 (Sakurai’s Novalike Object: Real-Time
Monitoring of a Stellar Thermal Pulse)

The WF/PC-2 was used to observe Sakurai’s Object {V4334 Sgr} that
now presents a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity for real-time observations
of a star undergoing a final helium thermal pulse. The star rose from
obscurity to become an 11th-magnitude “born-again” hydrogen-deficient red
giant in 1995-96, and currently it is undergoing episodes of atmospheric
dust formation. If it follows the pattern that the similar object V605 Aql
took early this century, it will soon begin evolving back to high
temperature. During the subsequent few years, it will begin to {re}-ionize
its large, faint, old planetary nebula as well as the new ejecta, and we
should be able to witness the re-establishment and evolution of a fast
stellar wind as the effective temperature increases. When the star does
begin to heat up, the proposers will initiate Target-of-Opportunity STIS
observations to monitor the star’s spectroscopic development in the UV at
regular intervals, continuing over the next 3 Cycles. No anomalous
activity occurred.

1.11 Completed STIS/CCD 9077 (Survey of the LMC Planetary Nebulae)

The Space telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to perform
a snapshot survey of all known LMC planetary nebulae {PNe} in order to
study the co-evolution of the nebulae and their central stars, and to probe
the chemical enrichment history of the LMC. There were no reported problems.

1.12 Completed STIS/CCD 8293 (Spatial Structure of Super Star Clusters
in NGC 1569)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to perform
spatially-resolved long-slit spectroscopy of three of the nearest and
brightest super stat clusters (SSCs) in NGC 1569. A fortuitous alignment
allows positioning the three SSCs {A1, A2, and B} simultaneously in the
slit. The observations completed nominally, with no reported anomalous
activity.

1.13 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.

1.14 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.

1.15 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.

2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:

2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions:

Scheduled Acquisitions: 9

Successful: 8

Per HSTAR 8319, the acquisition scheduled for 241/110633Z failed
when the search radius limit was exceeded. A map taken at 241/114017Z
showed relatively low errors. The proposals detailed in 1.7, 1.8, and 1.9
were affected.

Scheduled Re-acquisitions: 5

Successful: 5

2.2 FHST Updates:

Scheduled: 18

Successful: 18

2.3 Operations Notes:

The SSR EDAC error counter was reset four times per ROP SR-1A.

The SSR autonomous engineering record mode was commanded at
241/0959Z and at 241/1047Z as directed by ROP SR-8A. The SSR was commanded
to stop at 241/1044Z per ROP SR-5A.

Using ROP DF-18A, the engineering status buffer limits were
adjusted at 241/1115Z.

The STIS MCE-2 reset at 241/121501Z while outside any SAA interval
and while the low voltage was on. The STIS flight software error counter
was cleared at 141/1220Z, using ROP NS-12. MAMA-2 was recovered via normal
SMS commanding at 241/2358Z.

SSA transmitter #2 was turned on and off for the interval
242/012929Z to 242/021708Z. ROP IC-2 was utilized.

3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS:

Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations.