Hubble Space Telescope Daily Report #3063 – 25 Feb 2002

HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE

DAILY REPORT #3063

PERIOD COVERED: 0000Z (UTC) 02/22/02 – 0000Z (UTC) 02/25/02

Daily Status Report as of 056/0000Z

1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED:

1.1 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.

1.2 Completed Seventeen 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.

1.3 Completed Seven 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 2.1 and HSTAR 8507, the acquisition
for the third iteration of this proposal defaulted to fine lock backup on
one FGS only, possibly affection the observations in that iteration. No
other problems occurred.

1.4 Completed Twenty 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 8507, the
acquisition for the ninth iteration of this proposal defaulted to fine lock
backup on one FGS only, possibly affection the observations in that
iteration. There were no other reported problems.

1.5 Completed Nine 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.

1.6 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 Six 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.

1.8 Completed WF/PC-2 9315 (Hubble Heritage Observations of Gomez’s
Hamburger {IRAS 18059-3211})

The WF/PC-2 was used to observe Gomez Hamburger. The proposal
completed with no reported problems.

1.9 Completed Two 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.

1.10 Completed Three Sets of STIS/CCD 9106 (The Biggest Black Holes)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to perform
searches for supermassive black holes in galaxy centers that have led to
the discoveries that {1} most or all hot galaxies contain massive dark
objects at their centers, presumably black holes; and {2} there is a tight
correlation between the black-hole mass and the luminosity-weighted
velocity dispersion of the hot component of the galaxy. This remarkable
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. There were no reported
problems.

1.11 Completed Two Sets of 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.

1.12 Completed Two Sets of STIS/CCD 8907 (Spectroscopic Flats C10)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to obtain
CCD flats in the spectrographic mode. As described in 2.1 and HSTAR 8507,
the acquisition for the final iteration of this proposal defaulted to fine
lock backup on one FGS only, possibly affection the observations in that
iteration. There were no other reported problems.

1.13 Completed WF/PC-2 8933 (Decontaminations and Associated
Observations Pt. 2/3)

The WF/PC-2 was used for the monthly decons. Also included were
instrument monitors tied to decons: photometric stability check, focus
monitor, pre- and post-decon internals {bias, intflats, kspots, & darks},
UV throughput check, VISFLAT sweep, and internal UV flat check. There were
no reported problems.

1.14 Completed Four Sets of STIS/CCD/MA1 9184 (A Survey for Missing
Baryons in Highly Ionized Intergalactic Gas at Low Redshift)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used to
observe six additional low-z QSOs with the STIS FUV E140M echelle mode {7
km s^-1 resolution}. Combined with archival data, this will increase the
sample redshift path by a factor of ~7 compared to the published
data. With the echelle data, we will {1} measure the number of O VI
absorbers per unit redshift {dN/dz} and their minimum cosmological mass
density with a limiting equivalent width of W_Lambda ~50 mAngstrom , {2}
examine whether the O VI absorption arises in photoionized, collisionally
ionized, or multiphase gas, and {3} study the dependence of the O VI system
properties on environment. In addition to testing this prediction
regarding the location of the missing baryons, the data will have
applications to many other topics such as low-z LyAlpha absorbers and the
physical properties and abundances of gas in the Milky Way halo. There was
no reported anomalous behavior.

1.15 Completed WF/PC-2/STIS/CCD 9174 (Using Optically Faint Radio
Sources to Pinpoint Dusty Proto-Galaxies)

The WF/PC-2 and the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) were
used to observe a number of high redshift, dusty starburst galaxies that
remain invisible in ground based observations in the Hubble Deep
Field. These galaxies appear as faint radio sources with bright
submillimeter counterparts, demonstrating they are very dusty systems. The
luminosities of these galaxies suggest they are in the process of
converting the bulk of their gas mass into stars, and will likely evolve
into present day massive ellipticals. The observations completed normally,
with no reported problems.

1.16 Completed WF/PC-2 9320 (Constraining the Highly Eccentric Orbit of
the Companion of the Binary TNO 1998 WW31 by Observations at its Pericenter)

The WF/PC-2 was used to observe the Trans Neptunian Object {TNO}
1998 WW31 that has a satellite. These observations will assess the
ellipticity of the orbit in a definite way, providing an important
constraint to the models proposed for the creation of such a binary
system. No problems were reported.

1.17 Completed WF/PC-2/STIS/CCD 9274 (Cluster-Galaxy Interactions in
the Coma Cluster)

The WF/PC-2 and the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was
used to observe the vigorously star forming galaxy NGC 4911 that provides a
spectacular example of a luminous spiral on its first passage through the
hot intracluster medium of the Coma cluster. ACIS-I imaging of NGC 4911
and its environs will complement HST Cycle 8 WFPC2 imaging and reveal the
role of the X-ray gas in driving star formation and generating tidal
debris. There were no problems.

2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:

2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions:

Scheduled Acquisitions: 19

Successful: 19

As detailed in HSTAR 8507, the acquisition at 053/200648Z defaulted
to fine lock backup on FGS-3 only when the scan step limit was exceeded on
FGS-1. The proposals described in 1.3, 1.4 and 1.12 may have been affected.
Scheduled Re-acquisitions: 18

Successful: 18

2.2 FHST Updates:

Scheduled: 45

Successful: 45

2.3 Operations Notes:

A 486 RAM dump was performed at 053/1512Z per ROP DF-01A.

The STIS MCE-1 reset at 053/1759520Z while outside any SAA interval
and while the low voltage was on. The STIS flight software error counter
was cleared at 053/1805Z as directed by ROP NS-12. MAMA-1 was recovered at
054/0622Z via normal SMS commands at the time of the next high voltage on
commanding.

Using ROP SR-1A, the SSR EDAC error counter was cleared four
times. The same ROP was utilized at 053/1917Z to clear an SSR-1 command error.

The CCS engineering status buffer limit for SESBSLD was changed to
‘8’ at 053/2020Z, using ROP DF-18A.

In preparation for Servicing Mission 3B, CCS ‘B’ string was
configured for prime operations at 054/1405: CCS ‘C’ string was configured
for operations backup at 054/1547Z. The flight operations team is expected
to move from the STScI to the GSFC STOCC at 056/1530Z (mid-Monday morning).

The NSSC-1 status buffer was dumped and reset at 056/0723Z per ROP
NS-3.

3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS:

Servicing Mission 3B, currently scheduled for February 28.

Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations.