Hubble Space Telescope Daily Report #2985 – 26 Oct 2001

HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE

DAILY REPORT #2985

PERIOD COVERED: 0000Z (UTC) 10/25/01 – 0000Z (UTC) 10/26/01

Daily Status Report as of 299/0000Z

1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED:

1.1 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1/MA2 9116 (Understanding High-Redshift and
Starburst Galaxies: A UV Spectroscopic Survey of B- Stars in the SMC)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD, MA1 and MA2) was
used to construct a high quality spectral library at low metallicity in
order to synthesize the UV spectra of high redshift star-forming galaxies
and nearby starbursts. No problems were reported.

1.2 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.

1.3 Completed Four 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 STIS/CCD 9088 (Next Generation Spectral
Library of Stars)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to produce
a “Next Generation” Spectral Library of 600 stars for use in modeling the
integrated light of galaxies and clusters by using the low dispersion UV
and optical gratings of STIS. The library will be roughly equally divided
among four metallicities, very low {Fe/H < -1.5}, low {-1.5 < Fe/H < -0.5}, near-solar {-0.5 < Fe/H < 0.1}, and super-solar {Fe/H > 0.1}, well-sampling
the entire HR-diagram in each bin. Such a library will surpass all extant
compilations and have lasting archival value, well into the Next Generation
Space Telescope era. No problems occurred.

1.5 Completed Ten 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.

1.6 Completed STIS/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 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.

1.8 Completed Three 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 FGS/1 8774 (Calibrating the Mass-Luminosity Relation at
the End of the Main Sequence)

Fine Guidance Sennsor #1 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 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.

1.11 Completed WF/PC-2 9267 (Supernova Search)

The WF/PC-2 was used to search for high-redshift supernovae in
GO-observed fields, taking advantage of good first-epoch observations and
of the scheduling opportunities available because STIS is not currently
observing. No anomalous activity was reported.

1.12 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 reported problems.

1.13 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.

1.14 Completed STIS/CCD 9187 (A Lyman Limit Snapshot Survey: The Search
for Candidate D/H Absorbers)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to measure
D/H in gas clouds seen against background QSOs. This provides a unique and
fundamental cosmological probe of the baryonic density parameter. To date,
most of the QSO absorption line D/H constraints have been derived at high
redshift. In this proposal the proposers investigate a lower redshift
range, because there are two potentially crucial advantages to be gained by
carrying out D/H measurements at intermediate redshift. First, the
background of HI forest lines is lower and contamination of the DI feature
is significantly reduced. Second, a far larger sample of very bright QSOs
exists. There were no reported problems.

1.15 Completed STIS/CCD 8617 (Ultraviolet Spectroscopy of Hot
Horizontal-Branch Stars in the Globular Cluster M13)

The Space telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to observe
blue horizontal-branch {BHB} stars in the metal-poor globular clusters M13,
M15, NGC 288 and NGC 6752 that have recently been found to exhibit
remarkable metallicity enhancements and helium depletions relative to the
canonical cluster composition. These abundance anomalies are most likely
due to diffusion processes — radiative levitation of the metals, and
gravitational settling of helium — in the stable radiative atmospheres of
these hot stars. With available ground-based facilities, we have observed
stars in M13 as hot as 19000 K, but beyond this point we are constrained by
low V- and B-band flux and an insufficient number of visible-wavelength
spectral lines. There were no reported problems.

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: 16

Successful: 16

2.3 Operations Notes:

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

A TTR was written when a re-transmit was required during a NSSC-1
load at 298/124649Z. As a result, ROP NS-05 was used at 298/1254Z to reset
SI C&DH errors.

A TTR was generated when the control center stop receiving ODMs at
298/1430Z.

The engineering status buffer limits were adjusted at 298/1702Z as
directed by ROP DF-18A.

3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS:

Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations.