Hubble Space Telescope Daily Report #2999 – 16 Nov 2001

HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE

DAILY REPORT #2999

PERIOD COVERED: 0000Z (UTC) 11/15/01 – 0000Z (UTC) 11/16/01

Daily Status Report as of 320/0000Z

1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED:

1.1 Completed Six Sets of 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 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 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 Three 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. The proposal completed uneventfully.

1.5 Completed Four 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 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. The observations completed
nominally.

1.7 Completed Six 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.

1.8 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2 9250 (Hubble Heritage Observations of
NGC 1275)

The WF/PC-2 was used to observe the active galaxy NGC 1275 for a
Hubble Heritage release. It is planned to obtain a two-orbit I-band image
that will be combined with archival B and R-band images of the same object,
to result in a 3-color image. There were no reported problems.

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 9055 (Direct Detection of an Extrasolar Planet
in Reflected Light)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to observe
HD 209458B that is the first extrasolar planet known to transit the disk of
its parent star. It is proposed to detect directly the gas giant planet
orbiting HD 209458 in reflected light by observing the secondary eclipse,
i.e. when the planet is occulted by the star. There were no reported
anomalies.

1.11 Completed Four 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.

1.12 Completed Three Sets of STIS/CCD 8910 (Sparse Field CTE
Test-Internal {Cycle 10})

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to perform
CTE measurements that are made using the “sparse field test”, along both
the serial and parallel axes. This program needs special commanding to
provide {a} off-center MSM positionings of some slits, and {b} the ability
to read out with any amplifier {A, B, C, or D}. No problems were encountered.

1.13 Completed Five Sets of WF/PC-2 8942 (Cycle 10 Intflat Sweeps and
Linearity Test)

The WF/PC-2 was used to monitor the pixel-to-pixel flatfield
response and provide a linearity check. These intflat sequences are done
once during the year and the images will provide a backup database in the
event of complete failure of the visflat lamp as well as allow monitoring
of the gain ratios. There were no reported problems.

2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:

2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions:

Scheduled Acquisitions: 9

Successful: 9

Per HSTAR 8400, the acquisition at 320/000253Z defaulted to fine
lock backup on FGS-3 only when the scan step limit was exceeded on
FGS-2. Three proposals, each occurring during the period of the next
report, may have been affected: WF/PC-2 9042, STIS 9285 and WF/PC-2 8936.
Scheduled Re-acquisitions: 4

Successful: 4

2.2 FHST Updates:

Scheduled: 23

Successful: 23

2.3 Operations Notes:

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

Operations personnel participated in GSFC Internal Simulation #12
(Deploy).

The telemetry mnemonic ND1DRET1 flagged out-of-limits low at
319/211343Z with a value of -0.02030991. The parameter returned within
bounds at 319/213213Z. HSTAR 8399 was written.

A TTR was written for a required re-transmit during a NSSC-1 load
at 320/042540Z. SI C&DH errors were then reset at 320/0430Z per ROP NS-5.

Another TTR was generated when there was a re-transmit during a 486
load at 320/090823Z. Accordingly, using ROP DF-i8A, an engineering status
buffer limit was adjusted at 320/0912Z.

3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS:

Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations.