Hubble Space Telescope Daily Report #2974 – 1 Oct 2001

HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE

DAILY REPORT #2974

PERIOD COVERED: 0000Z (UTC) 10/10/01 – 0000Z (UTC) 10/11/01

Daily Status Report as of 284/0000Z

1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED:

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

The WF/PC-2 was 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 observations completed nominally.

1.2 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. The observations were completed as planned, and no
anomalies were reported.

1.3 Completed Three Sets of WF/PC-2 8936 (Cycle 10 Supplemental Darks
Pt1/3)

The WF/PC-2 was used to perform a dark calibration program that
obtains three dark frames every day to provide data for monitoring and
characterizing the evolution of hot pixels. The proposal completed with no
reported problems.

1.4 Completed Two Sets of 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.

1.5 Completed Two Sets of STIS/CCD/MA1/MA2 9176 (LMC Eclipsing Binaries
with Cepheid Components: The Key to the Extragalactic Distance Scale)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD, MA1 and MA2) was
used to determine the distance to the LMC and to observe the Cepheid P-L
that form the backbone of the Cosmic Distance Scale and the determination
of H_degrees. Unfortunately, in spite of concerted efforts of many
investigators, the zero point of the Cepheid P-L law and the LMC distance
remain controversial and uncertain to ~10-15, using eclipsing binaries
{EBs} as “standard candles” to include two recently discovered LMC
eclipsing binaries {EBs} with Cepheid components. These observations of
these extraordinary systems hold the key to determining simultaneously the
Cepheid P-L zero point and the LMC distance, and to provide a direct test
of the Baade-Wesselink parallax method. There were no reported problems.

1.6 Completed Two Sets of STIS/MA1/MA2 8920 (Cycle 10 MAMA Dark
Measurements)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (MA1 and MA2) was used to
perform the routine monitoring of the MAMA detector dark noise, and is the
primary means of checking on health of the MAMA detectors systems through
frequent monitoring of the background count rate. The proposal completed
with no reported anomalous activity.

1.7 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.

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

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

1.9 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.

1.10 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 9304 (Ultraviolet Spectroscopy of the
Unexpected Outburst of WZ Sagittae)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used to
observe the extreme dwarf nova WZ Sge that unexpectedly went into outburst
on July 23, 2001, ten years earlier than anticipated. This event offers
the chance to obtain high-quality, time-resolved far-UV spectra, as the
outburst continues through its peak into decline. The observations
completed with no reported problems.

1.11 Completed Five 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.

1.12 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. The observations completed with no anomalous
activity.

1.13 Completed STIS/CCD 9066 (Closing in on the Hydrogen Reionization
Edge of the Universe)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used in parallel
constrain the Hydrogen reionization edge in emission that marks the
transition from a neutral to a fully ionized IGM at a predicted
redshifts. As described in 2.1 and HSTAR 8364, the acquisition for this
proposal defaulted to fine lock backup on one FGS only, possibly affecting
eight observations. Otherwise, the proposal completed with no additional
problems.

1.14 Completed WF/PC-2 8882 (Chandra and HST Observations of the
Brightest Cluster Lenses)

The WF/PC-2 was used in conjunction with Chandra to perform
observations of the four X-ray brightest, cooling-flow clusters with bright
gravitational arcs, newly identified from the ROSAT XBACS/BCS lensing
study. As described in 2.1 and HSTAR 8364, the acquisition for this
proposal defaulted to fine lock backup on one FGS only, possibly affecting
thirty-two observations. Otherwise, the observations completed with no
other reported problems.

2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:

2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions:

Scheduled Acquisitions: 6

Successful: 6

The acquisition at 283/143808Z defaulted to fine lock backup on
FGS-2 only when the scan step limit was exceeded on FGS-3. HSTAR 8364 was
written. The proposals detailed in 1.13 and 1.14 may have been affected.

Scheduled Re-acquisitions: 9

Successful: 9

2.2 FHST Updates:

Scheduled: 14

Successful: 14

2.3 Operations Notes:

The SSR EDAC error counter was cleared three times as directed by
ROP SR-1A.

The STIS MCE-1 reset at 283/204154Z while the low voltage was on
and while outside any SAA interval. Using ROP NS-12, the STIS flight
software error counter was cleared at 283/2044Z. MAMA-1 was recovered at
284/0806Z via normally scheduled SMS commanding.

There was a STIS EMC retry at 283/2317Z. The STIS flight software
error counter was cleared at 284/0001Z per ROP SR-12.

3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS:

Joint Integrated Simulation #1 (Rendezvous/Capture) will be
conducted today, starting at 9:00 am and continuing to approximately 8:30 pm.

Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations.