Status Report

Hubble Space Telescope Daily Report #3014 – 10 Dec 2001

By SpaceRef Editor

December 10, 2001

Filed under Hubble Space Telescope, Space Telescope Science Institute, US

HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE

DAILY REPORT #3014

PERIOD COVERED: 0000Z (UTC) 12/07/01 – 0000Z (UTC) 12/10/01

Daily Status Report as of 344/0000Z

1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED:

1.1 Completed Seven Sets of WF/PC-2 8937 (Cycle 9 Supplemental Darks pt2/3)

The WF/PC-2 was used obtain three dark frames every day to provide
data for monitoring and characterizing the evolution of hot pixels. No
problems were encountered.

1.2 Completed Three of STIS/CCD 9110 (A Search for Kuiper Belt Object
Satellites)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to
investigate whether the large number of collisions thought to have taken
place in the primordial Kuiper belt suggest that many Kuiper belt objects
{KBOs} could have suffered binary-forming collisions similar to that which
formed the Pluto — Charon binary. Detection of such KBO satellites would
allow measurement of KBO masses, would help to understand the past
collisional environment of the Kuiper belt, and would give a context to the
otherwise unique-seeming formation of the Pluto — Charon binary. The
proposal completed with no reported problems.

1.3 Completed Six 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.

1.4 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1/MA2 8916 (Spectroscopic Sensitivity Workout:
First-order Modes)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD, MA1 and MA2) was
used to measure the basic sensitivity for all supported MAMA and CCD
first-order spectroscopic modes. Sensitivity measurements are done for all
supported tilts of the gratings, at a S/N suitable to any particular
setting, in order to get all measurements done in a reasonable number of
orbits but still get a very accurate sensitivity measurement. There were
no reported problems.

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/CCD 9247 (The Faint Secondary to eps Eridani)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to detect a
faint point source near eps Eriand determine whether this point source is a
true secondary to eps Eri. The proposal completed without incident.

1.7 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.

1.8 Completed Three 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.

1.9 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. The proposal completed uneventfully.

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

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) 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. No
problems were encountered.

1.11 Completed 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. The observations were completed as scheduled, and no
problems were reported.

1.12 Completed STIS/CCD/MA2 9051 (Identifying Damped Lyman-alpha
Galaxies at z~1)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA2) was used to
look for samped Lyman-alpha absorption systems that contain the bulk of the
neutral gas in the Universe in the redshift range z = 0.5 – 5, yet the
nature of the galaxies responsible for the absorption is not well
understood. Only recently have observers found more than a handful of
damped absorbers at redshifts z < 1.5. Using the FIRST Bright Quasar Survey {FBQS}, with over a 1000 quasars, the proposers have undertaken a survey to build a complete picture of he nature of the galaxies responsible for damped Lyman-alpha absorption systems at z~1 and to double the sample size at this redshift. No problems were encountered.

1.13 Completed Three Sets of WF/PC-2 8940 (Cycle 10 Earth Flats)

The WF/PC-2 was used to monitor flatfield stability by obtaining
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 without incident.

1.14 Completed STIS/MA1 8920 (Cycle 10 MAMA Dark Measurements)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (MA1) 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.

1.15 Completed Six Sets of STIS/CCD/MA2 9185 (UV Spectroscopic
Investigation of any Bright, Newly Discovered Comet)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA2) was used to
execute a target-of-opportunity program to investigate any bright comet
that is newly discovered during Cycle 10, including comets of any dynamical
class. The main scientific objective is to obtain accurate abundance
measurements for several key cometary species: CO from the CO 4PG bands,
cotwo from the CO Cameron bands, stwo from the stwo B-X bands, cstwo from
CS emissions, and water from OH emissions. The UV Cameron band emission is
currently the only way to probe cotwo in comets. The high sensitivity and
long-slit capability of STIS will allow characterization of the spatial
distribution of the coma species, so that we can identify those derived
from an extended source {e.g. CO}, study the decay of short-lived molecules
{e.g. stwo and cstwo}, compare the dust and gas spatial distributions, and
investigate the importance of e-impact on CO for the excitation of the
Cameron bands {the latter for any comet having mboxV<=sssim5. There were no reported anomalies.

1.16 Completed Three 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.

1.17 Completed Two Sets of STIS/MA1/MA2 9120 (Planetary Nebulae In The
LMC: A Study On Stellar Evolution And Populations)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (MA1 and MA2) was used to
investigate the final phase of the evolution of low- and intermediate-mass
stars, the Planetary Nebula {PN} ejection that is thought to provide the
main source of carbon and nitrogen enrichment in galaxies. The
observations completed nominally with no reported problems.

1.18 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 8693 (Interstellar Boron & Oxygen
Abundances in the Cep OB2 Association: Probing)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used to
investigate a specific nuclear process associated with core-collapse
supernovae that involves the inelastic scattering of neutrinos {produced as
a result of the core collapse} off of abundant nuclei in the outer layers
of the dying star. Two relatively low-abundance elements, boron and
fluorine, have been suggested to owe some uncertain fraction of their
cosmic abundances to this process. In the case of boron, the dominant
isotope is ^11B, and neutrinos interacting with ^12C can lead to its
synthesis. Fluorine-19 is the only stable F isotope and it can be produced
by neutrino scattering, removing a proton from ^20Ne. Competing processes
can also synthesyze these elements: cosmic-ray spallation reactions for B
and shell He-burning in AGB stars for F. In order to gauge the importance
of neutrino nucleosynthesis in the chemical evolution of the Galaxy, we
will determine interstellar B and O abundances in the gas associated with
the Cep OB2 association {using the B II 1362Angstrom and O I 1356Angstrom
lines}. These results will be combined with observations of interstellar F
I along the same lines-of-sight obtained with FUSE {fluorine can only be
compared directly to boron using interstellar lines and interstellar F is
only observable with FUSE}. The derived F/O and F/B ratios in Cep OB2 will
allow us to determine the relative importance of neutrino nucleosynthesis
to the origins of B and F. The proposal completed with no reported problems.

1.19 Completed Six Sets of STIS/CCD 8900 (Performance Monitor)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to measure
the baseline performance and commandability of the CCD subsystem. All
exposures are internals. The observations completed normally.

1.20 Completed STIS/CCD 9164 (Flows and Rotation in Protostellar Jets)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to study
the velocity structure of protostellar jets transverse to the jet flow
axis. HST resolution would allow the search for rotation, e.g. a helical
flow pattern, around the axis of an optical jet. Such a detection would
provide strong evidence that jets act as outflowing channels for angular
momentum, thus allowing infalling material to fully accrete onto the
protostar. There were no problems.

1.21 Completed STIS/CCD 9136 (T Tauri Star Coronagraphic Survey: A PMS
Protoplanetary Disk Census)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to observe
pre-main sequence solar-mass stars, the T Tauri stars that Millimeter and
IR studies suggest at least 50 percent have circumstellar disks similar to
the disk from which our planetary system formed. High spatial resolution,
high dynamic range imaging of such systems will map the spatial
distribution of material around the star, constraining the disk sizes and
inclinations, and provide a first assessment of when structure in the disk,
such as cleared central zones and annuli, which has been linked to planet
formation, develops. All observations completed without incident.

1.22 Completed Two Sets of STIS/CCD 9077 (Survey of the LMC Planetary
Nebulae)

The Space telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to perform
a snapshot survey of all known LMC planetary nebulae {PNe} in order to
study the co-evolution of the nebulae and their central stars, and to probe
the chemical enrichment history of the LMC. There were no reported problems.

1.23Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 9228 (Ultraviolet Spectroscopy of R Coronae
Borealis Stars — Broad Lines from an Accretion Disc?)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used to
obtain spectra of three R Coronae Borealis {RCB} stars that will provide
novel data on hot gas near these stars. All observations completed with no
reported problems.

1.24 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.

1.25 Completed Four 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.

1.26 Completed WF/PC-2 9118 (Tracing the Cosmic Expansion to z>1 with
Type Ia Supernovae)

The WF/PC-2 was used to observe type Ia supernovae in order to
provide evidence for an accelerating universe. The case for cosmic
acceleration rests almost entirely on the observation that the observed SN
Ia at z~0.5 are 0.25 magnitudes fainter than expected for a
non-accelerating Universe. It is proposed to follow five SN Ia in the
range 0.95 0 cosmology, this experiment is a powerful and
straightforward way to assess the reliability of the SN Ia
measurements. In addition, if SN Ia are reliable standard candles, the
proposed observations will significantly increase the precision with which
Omega_Lambda and Omega_M are measured. There was no reported anomalous
activity.

2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:

2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions:

Scheduled Acquisitions: 26

Successful: 26

Scheduled Re-acquisitions: 16

Successful: 16

2.2 FHST Updates:

Scheduled: 63

Successful: 63

2.3 Operations Notes:

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

The GenSlew utility was used five times for proposal 9185 (see 1.15).