Hubble Space Telescope Daily Report #3058 – 18 Feb 2002

HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE

DAILY REPORT #3058

PERIOD COVERED: 0000Z (UTC) 02/15/02 – 0000Z (UTC) 02/18/02

Daily Status Report as of 049/0000Z

1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED:

1.1 Completed Seven Sets of STIS/CCD 9317 (Pure Parallel Imaging
Program: Cycle 10)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to perform
the default archival pure parallel program for STIS during cycle 10. There
were no reported problems.

1.2 Completed WF/PC-2 9253 (Cycle 10 Astrometric Monitor)

The WF/PC-2 was used to verify relative positions of WF/PC-2 chips
with respect to one another. There were no reported problems.

1.3 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.

1.4 Completed Eight 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.

1.5 Completed Five 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.

1.6 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.

1.7 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. The proposal completed nominally.

1.8 Completed WF/PC-2 9319 (POMS Test Proposal: WFII Backup Parallel
Archive Proposal II)

The WF/PC-2 was used to execute a POMS test proposal, designed to
simulate future scientific plans. The proposal completed without incident.

1.9 Completed STIS/CCD 8912 (Full-Field Sensitivity Monitor C10)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to measure
a photometric standard star field in Omega Cen in 50CCD mode every few
months to monitor CCD sensitivity over the whole field of view. No
problems were encountered.

1.10 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. The
observations completed nominally.

1.11 Completed STIS/CCD 9128 (A Snapshot Survey of Absorption Lines
from High Velocity Clouds in the Milky Way)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to search
for Mg II and Mg I absorption from Galactic High Velocity Clouds {HVCs}
along the sightlines of 51 of the brightest QSOs, BL Lacs and Seyfert 2
galaxies in the sky. The observations completed with no reported problems.

1.12 Completed Three Sets of 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.

1.13 Completed STIS/CCD/MA2 8689 (UV Extinction in Dusty Ellipticals)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA2) was used to
perform UV spectroscopy of bright inner parts of two dusty elliptical
galaxies to study their ultraviolet extinction, in particular the 2175
Angstrom bump. The observations completed with no anomalous activity.

1.14 Completed Twenty-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 recommendationva0D
of the Parallels Working Group. There were no reported problems.

1.15 Completed STIS/MA2 9151 (UV Snapshot Observation of Nearby Star
Forming Galaxies)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (MA2) was used to obtain
FUV and NUV images of nearby emission- line galaxies with existing
star-formation rate {SFR} measurements from their HAlpha flux. Recently,
the use of the UV flux as a measure of SFR has gained much popularity for
estimating SFRs at different cosmic epochs. However, the SFR estimated
from UV flux could be greatly biased due to dust extinction. The KPNO
International Spectroscopic Survey {KISS} provides a large sample of nearby
HAlpha-selected starforming galaxies for which rich optical spectra are
available for measuring metallicity and dust extinction through line
ratios. By observing a subset of nearby emission-line galaxies in the KISS
sample with the STIS FUV and NUV MAMA, a direct comparison between UV and
Halpha SFR estimates will be possible. This will allow us to understand
the effect of dust extinction on UV flux for star- forming galaxies over a
wide range of HAlpha luminosity, metallicity absolute magnitude, and B-V
color . A rough dust extinction curve will be constructed for such
objects, making it possible to test plausible dust extinction curves used
in previous SFR studies of the distant universe. Also, high-resolution UV
images will allow us to search for plausible local counterparts to high
redshift galaxies whose rest-frame UV morphology is available from existing
optical HST data. There were no reported problems.

1.16 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 8590 (UV Imaging and Spectroscopy of
Luminous Blue Compact Galaxies from z=0 to z=1)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used to
observe two well-defined samples of low-mass starburst galaxies, one in the
local universe {z<0.1} and another at intermediate redshifts {0.2 < z < 0.7}. Both samples show optical sizes, morphologies, emission line widths, and luminosities comparable to those of LBGs at z=3, and are therefore probably the best local analogs and testbeds for further study of LBGs. Our main goals are to: {1} explore the morphologies, surface brightness distributions, and half-light radii of nearby starforming galaxies in the FUV, near Ly-alpha; {2} search for systematic differences among UV, optical, and near-IR morphologies and structural parameters; {3} investigate the intrinsic emission and absorption spectra near Ly-alpha of starbursting dwarf galaxies, with special attention to Ly- alpha profiles and interstellar and stellar photospheric absorption from Si II, O I, C II, Si IV, and C IV; {4} measure their FUV-optical colors and dust extinction properties; and {5} test the hypothesis that low-mass starbursts are the local counterparts of LBGs. The observation completed normally.

1.17 Completed Eleven 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. No problems occurred.

1.18 Completed FGS/1 9229 (Orbits of Pre-Main Sequence Binaries)

Fine Guidance Sensor #1 was used to dynamically measure the masses
of low mass pre-main sequence stars. This is important because there are
still no such objects with an accurately measured mass. All observations
completed without incident.

1.19 Completed Three Sets of 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 pre-planetary 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.

1.20 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.

1.21 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1/MA2 9113 (Solar UV Radiation and the Origin
of Life on Earth)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD, MA1 and MA2) was
used to observe chromospheric models that will enable the proposers to
predict the extreme-UV emission of the early Sun and its consequences for
the erosion of the early Earth’s atmosphere and the altered oxidation state
of the planet, and investigate the effect of metallicity on the UV emission
and its consequences for the photochemistry of Earth-like planets. There
was no anomalous activity.

1.22 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1/MA2 8919 (MAMA Sensitivity and Focus
Monitor C10)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD, MA1 and MA2) was
used to monitor the sensitivity of each MAMA grating mode to detect any
change due to contamination or other causes, and also to monitor the STIS
focus in a spectroscopic and an imaging mode. All observations were
successful.

1.23 Completed STIS/CCD/MA2 9048 (Boron Constraints on Slow Mixing in
Low Mass Stars)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA2) was used to
observe the atomic and nuclear characteristics of the light elements Li, Be
and B, that make their photospheric abundances ideal tracers of internal
physical processes in stars. Both Li and Be have been heavily utilized to
this end since their diminished abundances are a direct result of the
extent of internal slow mixing between surface and interior layers, as has
been shown with ground-based data. Boron provides a fresh and special
probe because it survives to greater depths inside stars than does Li or
Be, and can thus uniquely reveal the depth of mixing. It is proposed to
observe B in stars with very large depletions of Li and Be, i.e. stars
which have been the most seriously affected by mixing. No problems occurred.

1.24 Completed FGS/1 8898 (Calibrating FGS1r’s Interferometric Response
as a Function of Spectral Color)

Fine Guidance Sensor #1 was used to obtain reference point source
Transfer Functions {S-Curves} through the F583W filter and the F5ND
attenuator at the center position of the FGS1r FOV for a variety of stellar
spectral colors. The data will be added to the library of point source
interferograms that was assembled from the Cycles 8 and 9 calibration
program. These Transfer Functions are needed to support the analysis of GO
science data for the study of close and wide binary star systems and for
determining the angular diameter of extended sources. The proposal
completed with no reported problems.

1.25 Completed STIS/CCD 8908 (CCD Imaging Flats C10)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to
investigate flat-field stability over a monthly period. The proposal
completed with no reported problems.

1.26 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1/MA2 9036 (An Ultraviolet Spectroscopic
Survey of Star-Forming Galaxies in the Local Universe)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD, MA1 and MA2) was
used to perform a comprehensive STIS ultraviolet spectroscopic survey of
star-forming galaxies in the local universe. The sample covers a broad
range of morphologies, chemical composition, and luminosity. The
observations will provide spectral coverage between 1200 and 3100 Angstrom,
at a resolution of 100 to 200 kms and S/N of about 30. The data set will
allow the proposers to document and quantify the effects of massive stars
on the interstellar medium and to infer implications for the evolution of
the host galaxies. The proposal completed with no anomalous activity.

1.27 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1/MA2 8635 (A Test Of Pulsation And Diffusion
Theory For Subluminous B Stars)

The Space telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD, MA1 and MA2) was
used to confirm the recent discovery of radial and nonradial mode
pulsations in nearly 20 sdB stars that makes it possible to use
asteroseismology to probe the internal structure of these stars and discern
their evolutionary status. This is needed for reasons as diverse as
understanding the late stages of stellar evolution and the calibration of
the observed ultraviolet upturn in giant elliptical galaxies as an age
indicator. The observations completed with no anomalous activity

1.28 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

1.29 Completed FGS/1 9168 (The Distances to AM CVn Stars)

Fine Guidance Sensor (FGS) #1 was used to determine the parallaxes
and proper motions of the five brightest of the seven known AM CVn
systems. AM CVn systems are binaries where mass is transferred from a
completely hydrogen-deficient, degenerate mass donor to a white dwarf
primary through a helium accretion disk. A better understanding of these
systems is crucial for a number of reasons: (1) to study the late stages of
binary evolution, (2) to study the effect of chemical composition on the
physics of accretion discs, (3) to estimate their contribution to the
Supernovae Ia rate, and (4) to estimate their contribution to the
gravitational radiation background. All observations completed with no
reported problems.

2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:

2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions:

Scheduled Acquisitions: 33

Successful: 33

Scheduled Re-acquisitions: 9

Successful: 9

2.2 FHST Updates:

Scheduled: 83

Successful: 81

The updates at 047/173903Z and at 049/005821Z failed.

2.3 Operations Notes:

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

The SSR-3 EDAC error counter was cleared once per ROP SR-9A.

Per ROP DF-18A, the CCS engineering status buffer limit for SESBSLD
was adjusted three times.

Per an operations requests: the MAMA threshold limits were
adjusted, the pressure-based battery capacity equations were updated, and
limit changes were made for SSR-3 operations.

The NSSC-1 status buffer was dumped at 047/0747Z as directed by ROP
NS-03.

A TTR was written for a required re-transmit during a NSSC-1
load. SI C&DH errors were reset at 048/1811Z per ROP NS-05.

3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS:

Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations.