Hubble Space Telescope Daily Report #2986 – 29 Oct 2001

HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE

DAILY REPORT #2986

PERIOD COVERED: 0000Z (UTC) 10/26/01 – 0000Z (UTC) 10/29/01

Daily Status Report as of 302/0000Z

1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED:

1.1 Completed Two Sets of 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.

1.2 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.

1.3 Completed Seven 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 WF/PC-2/STIS/CCD 9099 (High Spatial
Resolution Spectroscopy of the Massive Globular Cluster G1)

The WF/PC-s and the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) were
used to obtain high spatial resolution, long-slit spectroscopy of the most
luminous globular cluster in the Local Group, G1 in M31. The kinematic
structure obtained with these data will provide a stringent test of whether
a central black hole exists, thereby determining whether globular clusters
share the same intimate connection that normal galaxies do with their black
holes. No problems were reported.

1.5 Completed Five 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.

1.6 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2 8867 (Gamma-Ray Bursts: Discovering
The Progenitors And Understanding The Explosion – Visits A0-R0)

The WF/PC-2 was used to observe a target-of-opportunity, gamma-ray
burster, GRB010921. Gamma-ray burst astronomy, one of the most active and
exciting frontiers in astrophysics, is now entering a critical stage —
with dramatic leaps in understanding of these events, as well as new
discoveries. Improvements in triggering and positioning accuracy provided
by the SAX and HETE-2 gamma-ray satellites will allow entirely new classes
of events to be studied. Given the recent progress in this field, the
proposers are now in a position to design precision, broadband measurements
that can provide quantitative information on the as-yet-unknown energy
sources, the explosion geometry, and the surrounding medium. In
particular, the growing evidence of an intimate connection between SNe and
GRBs can be definitively tested. The proposal completed with no reported
problems.

1.7 Completed WF/PC-2 9072 (Dynamical Masses of White Dwarfs from
Resolved Sirius-Like Binaries)

The WF/PC-2 was used to observe resolved “Sirius-like” systems
containing hot white-dwarf companions of cooler main-sequence stars. It is
proposed to image them annually in the UV. No anomalous activity was reported.

1.8 Completed Six 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.

1.9 Completed Five Sets of 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 8385, the acquisition for the
second iteration of this proposal defaulted to fine lock backup on one FGS
only, possibly affecting nine observations. Otherwise, the proposal
completed uneventfully with no other problems.

1.10 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2 9149 (The Nature Of The Most
Luminous Star- Forming Galaxies In The Redshift Range 0.4 To 1.5)

The WF/PC-2 was used to perform additional ISO deep surveys that have
previously uncovered a population of galaxies which are making stars at the
fantastic rate of > 100 M_odotyr^-1 in the redshift range from 0.4 to
1.5. However this population evolves rapidly and luminous star-forming
galaxies are 5 to 10 times more numerous at z=1 than today. Combination of
ISO data with radio {VLA}, sub-mm {SCUBA} and optical data shows that they
contribute a major fraction {30-50$ representing only a few percent of the
field galaxy population. HST imaging of a small subsample of these
galaxies indicates that most of them are disks showing disrupted
morphologies or possessing companions, emphasizing the role of merging in
their star formation history. The proposal completed without incident.

1.11 Completed Six 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 STIS/CCD 8908 (CCD Imaging Flats C10)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to
investigate flat-field stability over a monthly period. The proposal
completed with no reported problems.

1.13 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2 9138 (Host Galaxies of
Gravitationally Lensed Quasars)

The WF/PC-2 was used to perform imaging studies of quasar host
galaxies at high redshift that are biased toward detecting luminous
hosts. Gravitational lensing combined with optical and near-IR imaging
enhances their detectivity and has nearly doubled the number of known hosts
at z>1. Lens studies have successfully imaged hosts with lower
luminosities at farther distances beneath a larger fraction of quasars than
imaging of non- lensed quasars. We propose deep WFPC2 follow-up imaging of
five lensed systems in the F555W and F814W filters, which offer unique
opportunities for detailed studies of faint, high-redshift, quasar
hosts. As described in 2.1 and HSTAR 8385, the acquisition for the first
iteration of this proposal defaulted to fine lock backup on one FGS only,
possibly affecting six observations. Otherwise, the proposal completed as
planned.

1.14 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1/MA2 9114 (SINS: The Supernova Intensive
Study– Cycle 10)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD, MA1 and MA2) was
used to perform closer observations of supernovae that will create the
chemical history of the Universe, energize the interstellar gas, stiffen
the spine of the extragalactic distance scale and provide the only evidence
for an accelerating universe. A violent encounter is underway between the
fast-moving debris and the stationary inner ring. Monitoring this
interaction will help solve the riddles of stellar evolution posed by the
enigmatic three-ring system of SN 1987A. Our UV observations of Ly- Alpha
emission reveal the present location and velocity of a remarkable reverse
shock that provides a unique laboratory for studying fast shocks and a
powerful tool for dissecting the structure of the vanished star. As
detailed in 2.1 and HSTAR 8386, a reaquisition for the first iteration of
this proposal initially had problems, although eventually fine lock was
achieved. No other problems were encountered.

1.15 Completed STIS/MA2 8920 (Cycle 10 MAMA Dark Measurements)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (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.

1.16 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2 8941 (Cycle 10 UV Earthflats)

The WF/PC-2 was used to monitor flat field stability by obtaining
sequences of earth streak flats to improve the quality of pipeline flat
fields for the WFPC2 UV filter set. The proposal had no problems.

1.17 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.

1.18 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.

1.19 Completed FGS/1 8898 (Calibrating FGS1r’s Interferometric Response
as a Function of Spectral Color)

Fine Guidance Sensor #1 was used to obtain reference point source
Transfer Functions {S-Curves} through the F583W filter and the F5ND
attenuator at the center position of the FGS1r FOV for a variety of stellar
spectral colors. The data will be added to the library of point source
interferograms that was assembled from the Cycles 8 and 9 calibration
program. These Transfer Functions are needed to support the analysis of GO
science data for the study of close and wide binary star systems and for
determining the angular diameter of extended sources. The proposal
completed with no reported problems.

2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:

2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions:

Scheduled Acquisitions: 17

Successful: 17

Per HSTAR 8385, the acquisition at 300/173944Z defaulted to fine
lock backup on FGS-2 only when the scan step limit was exceeded on
FGS-1. The proposals detailed in 1.9 and 1.13 may have been affected.
Scheduled Re-acquisitions: 29

Successful: 29

The re-acquisition at 301/301/014504Z finally succeeded, although
initially the scan step limit was exceeded. HSTAR 8386 was written. The
proposal described in 1.14 may have been affected.

292.2 FHST Updates:

Scheduled: 42

Successful: 42

2.3 Operations Notes:

BE2%DMT3 continues to flag out-of-limits low frequently (see HSTAR
8380).

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

A TTR was written for a generic command drop-out during a 486 load
at 299/130057Z.

The STIS MCE-2 reset at 301/073134Z while the low voltage was on
and while outside any SAA interval. The STIS flight software error counter
was reset at 301/0751Z per ROP NS-12. MAMA-2 will be recovered at
303/1557Z, when high voltage commanding next appears in the SMS.

3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS:

Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations.