Hubble Space Telescope Daily Report #3054 – 12 Feb 2002

HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE

DAILY REPORT #3054

PERIOD COVERED: 0000Z (UTC) 02/11/02 – 0000Z (UTC) 02/12/02

Daily Status Report as of 043/0000Z

1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED:

1.1 Completed Three Sets of STIS/CCD 9088 (Next Generation Spectral
Library of Stars)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to produce
a “Next Generation” Spectral Library of 600 stars for use in modeling the
integrated light of galaxies and clusters by using the low dispersion UV
and optical gratings of STIS. The library will be roughly equally divided
among four metallicities, very low {Fe/H < -1.5}, low {-1.5 < Fe/H < -0.5}, near-solar {-0.5 < Fe/H < 0.1}, and super-solar {Fe/H > 0.1}, well-sampling
the entire HR-diagram in each bin. Such a library will surpass all extant
compilations and have lasting archival value, well into the Next Generation
Space Telescope era. As described in yesterday’s report and HSTAR 8496,
the acquisition for the first iteration of this proposal defaulted to fine
lock backup on one FGS only, possibly affecting one observation. Then, per
HSTAR 8497 and 2.1, the acquisition for the third iteration of this
proposal failed, the take data flag remained down and all observations were
lost. No other problems occurred.

1.2 Completed Eleven 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 yesterday’s report and
HSTAR 8496, the acquisition for the first iteration of this proposal
defaulted to fine lock backup on one FGS only, possibly affecting one
observation. Then, per HSTAR 8497 and 2.1, the acquisition for the final
iteration of this proposal failed, the take data flag remained down and all
observations were lost. There were no other reported problems.

1.3 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.

1.4 Completed STIS/CCD 9180 (Gamma-ray Burst Progenitors: Probing Their
Environment)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to perform
a target of opportunity observation of gamma ray burster (GRB),
GRB-020124. 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.

1.5 Completed 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.

1.6 Completed Two 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.

1.7 Completed Three 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.

1.8 Completed Five Sets of WF/PC-2 8935 (Cycle 10 Standard Darks)

The WF/PC-2 was used to obtain dark frames every week in order to
provide data for the ongoing calibration of the CCD dark current rate, and
to monitor and characterize the evolution of hot pixels. Over an extended
period these data will also provide a monitor of radiation damage to the
CCDs. The proposal completed with no reported problems.

1.9 Completed 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.

1.10 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1/MA2 9161 (The Ultraviolet Properties of
Obscured QSOs)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD, MA1 and MA2) was
used to observe a subset of The Two Micron All-Sky Survey {2MASS}
-discovered QSOs to: 1} determine if UV absorption- line features are
present as seen in several other highly polarized AGN populations; 2} test
relationships between X-ray and UV/optical attenuation, AGN spectral type,
optical polarization, and detected UV absorption-line features; and 3}
characterize the spectral energy distributions and UV properties of
obscured QSOs. There were no problems.

1.11 Completed STIS/MA2 9573 (NUV-MAMA Daily Dark Monitor)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (MA2) was used to perform
daily monitoring of the NUV MAMA detector dark noise in order to monitor
the effects of thermal changes on the NUV dark rate. No problems occurred.

1.12 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 9067 (UV Detectability of Bright Quasars in
the Sloan Fields)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used to
take MAMA spectra of approximately 30 new, bright, high-redshift quasars in
each of the next three cycles. The observations completed with no reported
problems.

1.13 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.

1.14 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.

2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:

2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions:

Scheduled Acquisitions: 7

Successful: 6

Per HSTAR 8497, the acquisition scheduled for 042/234408Z failed
when the scan step limit was exceeded on FGS-3. The proposals described in
1.1 and 1.2 were affected.

Scheduled Re-acquisitions: 9

Successful: 9

2.2 FHST Updates:

Scheduled: 15

Successful: 15

2.3 Operations Notes:

Joint Integrated Simulation (JIS) #6 (Rendezvous) executed
yesterday from 9:30 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.

The 486 engineering status buffer (ESB) was dumped and cleared at
042/1148Z per ROP DF-18A. Using the same ROP, the ESB limit for SESBSLD
(=3) was set at 043/0001Z

The ephemeris table was uplinked at 043/0149Z as directed by ROP
DF-07A.

Due to the acquisition failure described in 2.1, the STIS flight
software error counter was cleared at 043/0150Z (ROP NS-12).

Using ROP SR-1A, the SSR-1 EDAC error counter was cleared at 043/0224Z.

3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS:

JIS #5 (EVA-4) is scheduled to be conducted today from 9:30 a.m.
until approximately 6:30 p.m.

Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations.