Hubble Space Telescope Daily Report #3031 – 10 Jan 2002

HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE

DAILY REPORT #3031

PERIOD COVERED: 0000Z (UTC) 01/09/02 – 0000Z (UTC) 01/10/02

Daily Status Report as of 010/0000Z

1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED:

1.1 Completed WF/PC-2 9238 (The Spatial and Ionization Structure of Cas
A’s Metal-Rich Ejecta)

The WF/PC-2 was used to survey the small-scale spatial and
ionization structures in the metal-rich ejecta of Cassiopeia A {Cas A},
then use these results to test reverse shock and CSM-interaction
hydrodynamic and line emission models. Cas A is the prototype for the
class of young, oxygen-rich SNRs containing material moving at several
thousand km s^-1 and exhibiting extreme O and Si-group {Si, S, Ar, and Ca}
abundances due to nuclear processing in a massive star. All observations
completed nominally.

1.2 Completed Two 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.

1.3 Completed Two 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. There were no reported problems.

1.4 Completed WF/PC-2 8222 (An Emission Line Survey of the Crab Nebula)

The WF/PC-2 was used to conduct an emission line survey of the Crab
Nebula (a.k.a., M-1) in the light of emission from O I, S II, and O III,
and in a single continuum band. In addition to our specific scientific
objectives, this survey will provide a data set that is essential to all
future studies of the structure, dynamics, and evolution of the Crab. The
observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were reported.

1.5 Completed 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 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 Two 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.

1.8 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.

1.9 Completed STIS/CCD 9107 (The Fundamental Plane for Nuclear Black Holes)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to conduct
more in-depth searches for supermassive black holes in galaxy
centers. Previous work has led to the discoveries that {1} most or all hot
galaxies contain massive dark objects at their centers, presumably black
holes; {2} there is a remarkably tight correlation between the black-hole
mass and the luminosity-weighted velocity dispersion of the hot component
of the galaxy. This mbh-Sigma relation has a scatter which is <0.3 dex in mbh and consistent with zero. This relationship suggests a strong link between black-hole formation, AGN activity, and galaxy formation, and once it is understood this link should advance our understanding of all three processes. The goal of this proposal is to investigate the scatter in the mbh-Sigma relation and the role of possible second parameters, by examining a sample of galaxies at fixed velocity dispersion Sigma=200+/- 20 kms. This approach decouples the effects of a second parameter from uncertainties in the shape of the mbh-Sigma relation, and minimizes spurious correlations because all of the galaxies will be studied using the same well-tested observational and modeling techniques. No anomalous activity occurred.

1.10 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2 9318 (POMS Test Proposal: WFII
Parallel Archive Proposal Continuation)

The WF/PC-2 was used to perform the generic target version of the
WFPC2 Archival Pure Parallel program. The program was used to take
parallel images of random areas of the sky, following the recommendations
of the Parallels Working Group. As described in 2.1 and HSTAR 8461, the
acquisition for the second iteration of this proposal defaulted to fine
lock backup on one FGS only, possibly affecting fourteen
observations. Otherwise, there were no further reported problems.

1.11 Completed STIS/CCD 8669 (Merger-Driven Evolution Of Galactic
Nuclei: Observations Of The Toomre Sequence)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to observe
galaxy mergers that are believed responsible for triggering starburst and
AGN activity in galaxies, and even perhaps transforming spiral galaxies
into ellipticals. As described in 2.1 and HSTAR 8461, the acquisition for
this proposal defaulted to fine lock backup on one FGS only, possibly
affecting three observations. Otherwise, the proposal completed nominally.

2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:

2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions:

Scheduled Acquisitions: 4

Successful: 4

Per HSTAR 8461, the acquisition at 009/215944Z defaulted to fine
lock backup on FGS-3 only when the scan step limit was exceeded on
FGS-2 The following re-acquisition at 009/232854Z was affected as
well. The proposals detailed in may have been impacted.
Scheduled Re-acquisitions: 10

Successful: 10

2.2 FHST Updates:

Scheduled: 12

Successful: 12

2.3 Operations Notes:

Using ROP SR-4A, an SSR engineering record session was commanded at
009/1921Z.

The 486 engineering status buffer was dumped and cleared at
009/2315Z as directed by ROP Df-18A.

3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS:

A NSSC-1 flight software (FSW) 7.5.3 patch installation is
scheduled for approximately 010/1630Z today. Neither the NSSC-1
application processors for the NCS nor the COSTAR will be active during the
uplink.

Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations.