Hubble Space Telescope Daily Report #3005 – 27 Nov 2001

HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE

DAILY REPORT #3005

PERIOD COVERED: 0000Z (UTC) 11/26/01 – 0000Z (UTC) 11/27/01

Daily Status Report as of 331/0000Z

1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED:

1.1 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.

1.2 Completed Three 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. As
described in 2.1 and HSTAR 8404, the acquisition for the third iteration of
this proposal defaulted to fine lock backup one one FGS only, possibly
affecting ten observations. Otherwise, the observations completed nominally.

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 WF/PC-2 9124 (Mid-UV SNAPSHOT Survey of Nearby
Irregulars: Galaxy Structure and Evolution Benchmark)

The WF/PC-2 was used to investigate the relation between star
formation and the global physical characteristics of galaxies to interpret
the morphologies of distant galaxies in terms of their evolutionary
status. Distant galaxies are primarily observed in their rest frame
mid-ultraviolet. They resemble nearby late-type galaxies, but are they
really physically similar classes of objects? It is proposed to address
this question through a SNAPSHOT survey in the 2 mid-UV filter F300W of 98
nearby late-type, irregular and peculiar galaxies. No problems were reported.

1.5 Completed Three 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.

1.6 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2 8597 (The Fueling of Active Nuclei:
Why are Active Galaxies Active?)

The WF/PC-2 was used to investigate the accretion onto massive
black holes that are believed to be the energy source for AGN. However,
evidence for black holes in quiescent galaxies has also been reported. Why
are these galaxies inactive? One possibility is that active galaxies are
better at providing fuel to the nuclear region than quiescent
galaxies. Other possible fueling mechanisms such as “bars-within-bars”
or nuclear spirals cannot be investigated from the ground because they are
relatively small features in the ISM. The observations were completed as
planned.

1.7 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.

1.8 Completed Two Sets of STIS/CCD 8905 (Read Noise Monitor)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to measure
the read noise of all the amplifiers {A, B, C, D} on the STIS CCD using
pairs of bias frames. Full frame and binned observations are made in both
Gain 1 and Gain 4, with binning factors of 1×1, 1×2, 2×1 and 2×2. All
exposures are internals. The proposal completed with no reported anomalies.

1.9 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2 8699 (The Origin of Short-Period Comets)

The WF/PC-2 was used to detect and characterize cometary nuclei in
order to determine the basic physical properties of a large fraction of the
population of short-period comets. By acquiring statistically significant
data, we can study the origin of this family of comets and test the
hypothesis that they are collisional fragments from the Kuiper Belt
Objects. The observations completed with no reported problems.

1.10 Completed Four 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.

1.11 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2 8939 (Cycle 10 Internal Monitor)

The WF/PC-2 was used to calibrate the internal monitor, to be run
weekly to monitor the health of the cameras. No problems were encountered.

1.12 Completed Three Sets of STIS/CCD 7912 (STIS Parallel Archive
Proposal – Nearby Galaxies – Imaging and Spectroscopy)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to make
parallel observations of nearby galaxies. This survey will be useful to
study the star formation histories, chemical evolution, and distances to
these galaxies. These data will be placed immediately into the Hubble Data
Archive. The observations were completed as scheduled, and no problems
were reported

1.13 Completed WF/PC-2 9041 (Direct Imaging Of The Progenitors Of
Massive, Core-Collapse Supernovae)

The WF/PC-2 was used to continue recent surveys of star-forming
galaxies in the nearby Universe that are discovering significant numbers of
supernovae which have massive star. There were no reported problems.

1.14 Completed Two 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.

1.15 Completed STIS/CCD 8907 (Spectroscopic Flats C10)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to obtain
CCD flats in the spectrographic mode. There were no reported problems.

1.16 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2/STIS/CCD/MA1/MA2 9127 (The UV
interstellar Extinction in Nearby Galaxies: M33)

The WF/PC-2 and the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD, MA1
and MA2) were used to investigate further the dust properties that vary in
different environments and from galaxy to galaxy. The proposers had
previously used HST to determine the UV extinction curve in M31. That
result, together with other studies of the Magellanic Clouds and Milky Way,
suggested that the dust particles vary and the proposers plan to enlarge
the sample by studying the UV extinction properties of dust in M33,
sampling different galactocentric distances and levels of star formation
activity. There were no reported problems.

1.17 Completed S/C 5582 (FOC/48 Monthly Activation (Camera Section
Only): Cycle 4)

This proposal was executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted.

1.18 Completed Two Sets of STIS/CCD 8611 (Observations of Nearby Type
Ia Supernovae)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to obtain
UV spectra of five nearby {0.02 < z < 0.08} SNe Ia in the Hubble Flow. The spectra will be taken at weekly intervals over a range in time starting slightly before maximum light and extending to +30 days. These observations will accomplish the following three goals: {1} calibration of the rest frame UV light curves of SNe Ia and an assessment of their potential use as distance indicators through UV light curve shape analyses. {2} improvement in our understanding of the physics of SNe Ia, metallicity/evolutionary effects and correlations between peak brightness and UV spectral features. {3} calibration of the SNe Ia previously observed by HST at high-redshift. This data is crucial for proper cross-filter k-corrections and calibration of the supernova photometry. The observations completed with no reported anomalous activity.

1.19 Completed Two 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.

1.20 Completed FOC/96 7923 (FOC F/96 Turn-on)

The Faint Object Camera (f/96) was used to take an internal flat
and a dark to ensure that the 30-day limit for the FOC is not
exceeded. The observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies
were noted.

1.21 Completed STIS/CCD 9070 (A Census of Nuclear Star Clusters in
Late-Type Spiral Galaxies: II. Spectroscopy and Stellar Populations)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to
investigate spiral galaxies that have a prominent star cluster in their
dynamical center. Statistics for cluster frequency, size, and luminosity
remain incomplete. The proposal completed as planned.

2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:

2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions:

Scheduled Acquisitions: 10

Successful: 10

Per HSTAR 8404, the acquisition at 330/224911Z defaulted to fine
lock backup on FGS-1 only when the scan step limit was exceeded on
FGS-2. The proposal detailed in 1.2 may have been affected.

Scheduled Re-acquisitions: 7

Successful: 7

2.2 FHST Updates:

Scheduled: 21

Successful: 21

2.3 Operations Notes:

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

The engineering status buffer limits were adjusted at 330/1039Z per
ROP DF-18A.

The COSTAR Operate Converter was temporarily enabled at 330/2020Z
per an operations request.

The ephemeris table was loaded at 331/0020Z as directed by ROP DF-07A.

A TTR was generated for a required re-transmit at 331/025950Z
during a NSSC-1 load. SI C&DH errors were reset at 331/0311Z, using ROP NS-05.

Per ROP NS-03, the NSSC-1 status buffer was dumped at 331/0344Z.

The STIS MCE-2 reset at 331/061427Z while outside any SAA interval
and while the low voltage was on. The STIS flight software error counter
was reset at 331/0630Z per ROP NS-12. MAMA-2 will be recovered at
331/1127Z, the next time high voltage will be commanded via the SMS.

There was a STIS EMC re-try at 331/084830Z. The STIS flight
software error counter was reset at 331/0948Z, using ROP NS-12.

3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS:

Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations.