Hubble Space Telescope Daily Report #3019 – 17 Dec 2001
HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE
DAILY REPORT #3019
PERIOD COVERED: 0000Z (UTC) 12/14/01 – 0000Z (UTC) 12/17/01
Daily Status Report as of 351/0000Z
1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED:
1.1 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.
1.2 Completed 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 WF/PC-2/STIS/CCD 8573 (Newborn Planets and Brown Dwarf
Companions in IC 348)
The WF/PC-2 and the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) were
used to search for young giant planets and brown dwarfs around ~100
low-mass stars and brown dwarfs in the nearby cluster IC 348. The
observations completed with no reported problems.
1.4 Completed Ten 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. As described in 2.1 and HSTAR 8433, the acquisition for the
third and fourth iterations of this proposal failed, affecting all
observations in those iterations. Otherwise, the observations were
completed as planned, and no further anomalies were reported.
1.5 Completed Three Sets of WF/PC-2 9103 (Resolving New Examples of
Edge-on Young Stellar Object Disks)
The WF/PC-2 was used to perform edge-on, optically thick
circumstellar disks observations have been previously imaged by the Hubble
Space Telescope in association with several nearby young stars. In these
systems, the central star is occulted from direct view, large PSF artifacts
are absent, and the disk reflected light is clearly seen. It is for these
objects in nearby star-forming regions that HST has provided the best,
highest resolution {7-10 AU} views to date of disks which may form
planetary systems like our own. Comparison of edge-on disk images with
scattered light models has allowed key structural parameters such as the
disk outer radius, vertical scale height, radial density profile, total
mass, and dust grain properties to be determined. No problems were reported.
1.6 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.
1.7 Completed WF/PC-2 9157 (Fundamental Properties Of L-Type Dwarfs In
Binaries)
The WF/PC-2 was to be used to characterize the physical properties
of eight L-dwarfs in four binary systems. As described in 2.1 and HSTAR
8433, the acquisition for this proposal failed, affecting eight observations.
1.8 Completed Three Sets of STIS/CCD 8906 (Hot Pixel Annealing)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to measure
the effectiveness of the CCD hot pixel annealing process by measuring the
dark current behavior before and after annealing and by searching for any
window contamination effects. In addition, CTE performance is examined by
looking for traps in a low signal level flat. As described in 2.1 and
HSTAR 8433, the acquisition for the first iteration of this proposal
failed, affecting all observations in that iteration. Otherwise, there
were no other reported problems.
1.9 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2 9180 (Gamma-ray Burst Progenitors:
Probing Their Environment)
The WF/PC-2 was used to perform a target of opportunity observation
of gamma ray burster (GRB), GRB-011121. GRB astronomy is a field maturing
at a phenomenal rate. Three important new observational and theoretical
discoveries, formulated over the last twelve months, allow the proposer to
address new, and in many cases, more sophisticated questions than could
have been posed previously. These developments: the discovery of X-ray
lines in GRB 991216; the observation that N_H as deduced from X-ray
afterglow are one to two orders of magnitude larger than the dust
extinction inferred from optical afterglow; and the growing realization
that the afterglow emission may exhibit features of dust echoes, appear to
offer unexpected and new diagnostics that will directly inform us about the
progenitor, the circum-progenitor material and the immediate interstellar
environs. There were no reported problems.
1.10 Completed 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. The
observations completed nominally.
1.11 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2 9134 (Giant H II Regions and the
Connection with Starbursts and Diffuse Ionized Gas)
The WF/PC-2 was used to study the connection between massive star
formation regions, ionized supershells, and the diffuse ionized gas that
pervades many star-forming galaxies. The proposal completed with no
reported problems.
1.12 Completed Six 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.
1.13 Completed Three 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.
1.14 Completed WF/PC-2 9145 (A Snapshot Survey of the Optically
Selected Type-2 Quasars)
The WF/PC-2 was used to observe an identified population of
emission-line objects in DPOSS, which can be plausibly interpreted as the
long-sought type-2 quasars. They have high-ionization Seyfert-2 like
spectra, but with narrow-line luminosities comparable to those of the
luminous type-1 quasars in the same redshift range. This population may be
a major contributor to the cosmic hard x-ray background. It is proposed to
obtain multi-color images of a representative sample of these objects, in
order to examine their morphology. We may be able to detect point-like
nuclei which are not detectable in ground-based images, the dust lanes
hiding them from our view, possible evidence for tidal interactions and the
overall morphology of their hosts, etc. The proposal completed with no
reported problems.
1.15 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.
1.16 Completed STIS/CCD 9312 (POMS Test Proposal: STIS Non-scripted
Parallel Proposal Continuation IV)
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.
1.17 Completed WF/PC-2 9101 (Toward Understanding the Bipolar
Geometries of Preplanetary Nebulae with High-Velocity Polar Flows)
The WF/PC-2 was used to image 17 preplanetary nebula for comparison
with high-resolution spectral-line images {being obtained with
VLA/MERLIN/ATCA}, enabling us to understand the fast outflow and how its
hydrodynamical interaction with the AGB wind produces a bipolar nebula. No
problems were reported.
1.18 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 9056 (Spectroscopic Imaging of the
Atmosphere of Callisto)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used to
obtain long-slit imaging ultraviolet spectra of Callisto, using the G140L
grating, to study the interaction of the Jovian plasma environment with the
tenuous carbon dioxide atmosphere of this icy satellite. The proposal
completed nominally.
1.19 Completed Two Sets of 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
1.20 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.
1.21 Completed STIS/CCD/MA2 7514 (Observations of Orion — Probing the
Origin of Abundance Anomalies in H II Regions)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA2) was used to
perform a set of observations of emission-line diagnostics of the Orion
Nebula, the brightest and best-resolved H II region. The major goal is to
provide reliable elemental abundances in this benchmark of the ISM. The
observations completed with no reported anomalous activity.
1.22 Completed Seven 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.
1.23 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.
1.24 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 2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY: 2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions: Scheduled Acquisitions: 19 Successful: 18 Scheduled Re-acquisitions: 22 Successful: 19 As detailed in HSTAR 8433, the acquisition at 348/141552Z and the 2.2 FHST Updates: Scheduled: 53 Successful: 52 Per HSTAR 8434, the roll dealy update at 350/234135Z failed due to 2.3 Operations Notes: Using ROP SR-1A, the SSR-1 EDAC error counter was cleared three times. The telemetry was changed to HN and PN formats via real-time The engineering status buffer limits were adjusted on five occasions The STIS thermal shelf zone 3B temperature began breaking its limit The NSSC-1 status buffer was dumped and reset at 348/1411Z per ROP Per an operations request, eclipse management steps were taken The STIS MCE-2 reset at 349/222414Z while the low voltage was on Special reaction wheel assembly motor current and torque data was A TTR was written for a required re-transmit during a 486 load at 3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS: Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations.
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
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.
following two re-acquisitions at 348/1546Z and at 348/1723Z failed to gyro
control when the search radius limit was exceeded on FGS-3. The proposals
described in 1.4, 1.7 and 1.8 were affected.
tracker #1.
commanding on numerous occasions as directed by ROP DF-09A.
per ROP DF-18A.
intermittently starting at 348/035656Z. The maximum value was 28.1 degC
while the data base limit is 28.0 degC.
NS-3.
(rate-of-charge test) at 349/0047Z.
and while outside any SAA interval. The STIS flight software error counter
was cleared at 349/2249Z per ROP NS-12. MAMA-2 was recovered at 349/2302Z,
the time of the next SMS-commanded high voltage on commanding.
obtained at 1454Z per an operations request.
351/0807Z.
