Hubble Space Telescope Daily Report #2950 – 5 Sep 2001

HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE

DAILY REPORT #2950

PERIOD COVERED: 0000Z (UTC) 09/04/01 – 0000Z (UTC) 09/05/01

Daily Status Report as of 248/0000Z

1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED:

1.1 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 8919 (MAMA Sensitivity and Focus Monitor C10)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used to
monitor the sensitivity of each MAMA grating mode to detect any change due
to contamination or other causes, and also to monitor the STIS focus in a
spectroscopic and an imaging mode. All observations were successful.

1.2 Completed WF/PC-2 8825 (Decontaminations and Associated
Observations 4/4)

The WF/PC-2 was used to perform the monthly decontaminations
(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. The proposal completed with no reported problems.

1.3 Completed Two Sets of STIS/CCD 8901 (Dark Monitor-Part 1)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to
monitor. There was no anomalous activity.

1.4 Completed FGS/1 9169 (An Interferometric Harvest of Double Degenerates)

Fine Guidance Sensor #1R was used to observe the white dwarf mass
and age distributions that hold clues to the star formation history of our
Galaxy and the age of the disk. No problems were reported.

1.5 Completed Two Sets of STIS/CCD 9148 (Light Echos and the Nature of
Type Ia Supernovae)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to take
STIS snapshot images of a subset of 43 well observed Type Ia supernovae
{SNIa}, most of which have been discovered in late type galaxies over the
last 40 years to make a systematic search for light echos around SN
Ia. STIS will also observe a sample of 10 SN II and SN Ib/c, which are
believed to be the result of massive star core collapse and, therefore, to
be thin-disk population objects, in order to make an empirical calibration
of the accuracy of our method for determining scale heights. The SN Ia
sample will provide a direct as well as accurate estimate of the scale
height of SN Ia which is an important clue to the progenitors of these
events. The proposal completed nominally.

1.6 Completed STIS/CCD 8903 (Bias Monitor – Part 1)

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. There were no problems.

1.7 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.

1.8 Completed FGS/1 9034 (The Masses and Luminosities of Population II
Stars)

Fine Guidance Sensor #1 was used to observe the mass-luminosity
relation {MLR} of Population II stars of which very little is currently
known. With the advent of the Hipparcos Catalogue, improved distances to
many spectroscopic binaries known to be Pop II systems are now
available. After surveying the literature and making reasonable estimates
of the secondary masses, we find 13 systems whose minimum separation should
be larger than the resolution limit of FGS #1. As described in 2.1 and
HSTAR 8328, the acquisition for this proposal defaulted to fine lock backup
on one FGS only, possibly affecting the observations. Otherwise, the
observations completed nominally.

1.9 Completed 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. As described in 2.1 and HSTAR 8328, the
acquisition for this proposal defaulted to fine lock backup on one FGS
only, possibly affecting the observations. Otherwise, the observations
completed with no other anomalous activity.

1.10 Completed Two 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. As described in 2.1 and HSTAR 8328, the acquisition for the
first iteration of this proposal defaulted to fine lock backup on one FGS
only, possibly affecting the observations. Otherwise, the observations
were completed as planned, and no further anomalies were reported.

1.11 Completed STIS/CCD 9128 (A Snapshot Survey of Absorption Lines
from High Velocity Clouds in the Milky Way)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to search
for Mg II and Mg I absorption from Galactic High Velocity Clouds {HVCs}
along the sightlines of 51 of the brightest QSOs, BL Lacs and Seyfert 2
galaxies in the sky. The observations completed with no rpeorted problems.

1.12 Completed STIS/CCD 9262 (Side-2 Slit Locations)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to measure
the slit/aperture positions that are expected to be different when the STIS
is run through side 2 than when it is run from side 1. This proposal will
determine the location in pixel coordinates on the STIS CCD detector of the
positions of the set of STIS acquisition apertures and slits. This will be
accomplished by a set of internal exposures, using the tungsten lamp for
illumination. All images will be taken with the acquisition mirror. An
image will be taken at each nominal slit or aperture position {on the slit
wheel}. This activity will also be used to verify repeatability of the
slit wheel mechanism. In addition to taking images at the nominal slit
position, multiple images will be taken for a subset of the slits after
having moved the slit wheel. There were no reported problems.

1.13 Completed Two Sets of STIS/CCD 9052 (A Global Search for
Alteration Minerals on Mars)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to perform
high spatial resolution and moderate spectral resolution long-slit imaging
spectroscopy of Mars, to search for and globally map the presence of
iron-bearing minerals that are diagnostic of specific climatic
conditions. These hyperspectral image cubes will be complemented by
near-simultaneous WFPC2 UV-VIS imaging that will allow us to quantify the
effects of water ice clouds or other aerosols on our STIS spectra. These
STIS data will provide the ability to detect and map small abundances {~1
jarosite K, Na, H_3OFe_3{SO_4}_2{OH}_6, goethite {AlphaFeOOH}, hematite
{alphaFe_2O_3}, and other ferric and ferrous phases. These minerals are
formed under specific environmental conditions, and some are potential
sinks for Martian atmospheric volatiles. There were no reported problems.

1.14 Completed WF/PC-2 9133 (Imaging of Gravitational Lenses)

The WF/PC-2 was used to observe gravitational lenses that offer
unique opportunities to study cosmology, galactic structure, galaxy
evolution, quasar hosts and extinction. They are also the only sample of
galaxies selected on the basis of their mass rather than their luminosity
or surface brightness. While gravitational lenses can be discovered with
ground-based optical and radio observatories, converting them from
curiosities into scientific tools requires HST. There were no reported
anomalies.

1.15 Completed Two Sets of STIS/CCD 9284 (POMS Test Proposal: STIS
Non-Scripted Parallel Proposal Continuation IV)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used in the
parallel mode to make some low galactic latitude archive observations. The
observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted.

1.16 Completed STIS/MA2 8843 (Cycle 9 MAMA Dark Measurements)

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

2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:

2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions:

Scheduled Acquisitions: 11

Successful: 11

Per HSTAR 8328, the acquisition at 247/102116Z defaulted to fine
lock backup on FGS-3 only. The proposals detailed in 1.8, 1.9 and 1.10 may
have been affected.

Scheduled Re-acquisitions: 6

Successful: 6

2.2 FHST Updates:

Scheduled: 25

Successful: 23

HSTAR 8327 reports that the full maneuver updates scheduled for
247/125329Z and at 127/125614Z failed due to tracker #3.

2.3 Operations Notes:

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

The engineering status buffer (ESB) limits were adjusted three
times per ROP DF-18A. Using the same ROP, the ESB was dumped and cleared
at 248/0613Z

The SSR pointer was set at 247/2302Z as directed by ROP SR-3.

3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS:

Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations.