Status Report

Hubble Space Telescope Daily Report #3080 – 26 Mar 2002

By SpaceRef Editor

March 26, 2002

Filed under Hubble Space Telescope, Space Telescope Science Institute, US

HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE

DAILY REPORT #3080

PERIOD COVERED: 0000Z (UTC) 03/25/02 – 0000Z (UTC) 03/26/02

Daily Status Report as of 085/0000Z

1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED:

1.1 Completed FGS/1 9581 (A BEA Science Program: A High Angular
Resolution Survey of Some of the Galaxy’s Most Massive Stars)

Fine Guidance Sensor #1 was used to make optimal use of otherwise
unused telescope time while HST’s pointing is restricted to the BEA cone
during the first 12 days of SMOV3B. The launch date of Feb 29 placed two
of the Galaxy’s most active star forming regions, Trumplers 14 and 16 in
the Carina Nebula, within the BEA for the entire 12 day period. FGS1r was
used to
conduct a high angular resolution survey of the most massive and luminous
stars in these two magnificent clusters to establish the incidence of
binarity at the high mass end of the HR diagram. This survey will close the
detection gap between spectroscopic and speckle surveys in which duplicity
can be concealed and will dramatically improve our knowledge of the IMF at
the high mass end of the main sequence as well as the luminosity function
{LF} of star forming regions which produce such high mass stars. Finally,
this survey will identify targets for an approved SIM Key Science project
to dynamically determine O-star masses. There was no anomalous activity.

1.2 Completed Eighteen Sets of NICMOS/1/2/3 8945 (Cooling System
Monitoring)

The Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Camera (NIC1, NIC2 and
NIC3 was used 1}.to measure NICMOS detector performance during the
cool-down and steady state operation of the NCS. 2}. to demonstrate
stability {+/-0.1K} of the NICMOS detector temperature at the optimal
science operating temperature. and 3}.to demonstrate repeatability {+/-0.1
K} of NICMOS detector temperature following changes from the optimal
science operating temperature. As described in yesterday’s report, the
re-acquisition for the fifth iteration of this proposal failed, affecting
that iteration when the take data flag remained down. Then, as further
described in 2.1 and HSTAR 8579, during the eleventh iteration, the
acquisition defaulted to fine lock backup on one FGS only, possibly
affecting the observations in that iteration. Otherwise, no other problems
were encountered.

1.3 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2 8954 (SM3B Point Spread Function
Verification)

The WF/PC-2 was used to verify the Point Spread Function after
SM3B. There were no reported problems.

1.4 Completed Eight Sets of ACS/WFC/HRC 8947 (Weekly Test)

The Advanced Camera for Surveys (WFC and HRC) was used to perform
basic tests to monitor, the read noise, the development of hot pixels and
test for any source of noise in ACS CCD detectors. This program will be
executed at least once a day for the entire lifetime of ACS. As described
in yesterday’s report, the re-acquisition for the third iteration of this
proposal failed, affecting that iteration when the take data flag remained
down. Otherwise, there were no other problems reported.

1.5 Completed WF/PC-2 8950 (SM3B Cool Down, Contamination Monitor, and
Focus Check)

The WF/PC-2 was used to monitor the planned cooldown to -88C,
followed by UV monitors, focus checks, as well as decons and associated
monitors. No problems were noted.

1.6 Completed STIS/CCD 9163 (Kinematics Of Emission-Line Gas Disks In
Radio-Quiet Galaxies)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to measure
central black hole {BH} masses from the rotation rate of the emission-line
gas, and to determine the nature and structure of the gas disks. Three
galaxies with no radio jets and with Halpha+[NII] emission have been
identified, which have dust disks similar to those commonly seen in our
sample of radio-loud active galaxies. All observations completed nominally.

1.7 Completed Two Sets of STIS/CCD 8963 (CCD Bias)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to measure
CCD read noise from multiple bias frames obtained in common science modes:
amplifier D, gains 1 and 4 electrons/DN, and binning factors of 1×1, 1×2,
2×1, and 2×2. The read noise measurements before and after NCC turn-on are
then compared, and standard calibration reference files for use in pipeline
reduction of SMOV3B data are constructed. The proposal had no reported
problems.

1.8 Completed Two Sets of FGS/1 8999 (SM3B Jitter Test)

Fine Guidance Sensor 1R was used in both Position Mode {finelock}
and Transfer Mode to observe selected targets in order to gain insight into
the vehicle jitter characteristics after the alterations made to HST during
SM3B. As further described in 2.1 and HSTAR 8579, during the second
iteration, the acquisition defaulted to fine lock backup on one FGS only,
possibly affecting the observations in that iteration. No other problems
were encountered.

1.9 Completed Two Sets of STIS/CCD 8964 (CCD Darks)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to obtain
dark frames twice daily, as in a corresponding calibration
program. Standard calibration reference darks are constructed and hot
pixel lists are updated for use in pipeline reduction of SMOV3B data. All
observations completed without incident.

1.10 Completed STIS/CCD 9068 (Accurate Determination of the BH Mass in
Early-Type Disk Galaxies)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to map the
ionized gas velocity field of three early-type disk galaxies, for which we
will be able to derive high precision BH mass measurements. The sample
galaxies have been selected by means of ground-based high resolution
spectroscopy among 37 observed objects, since it is recognized in their
central regions the clear presence of a circumnuclear Keplerian disk of
ionized disk suitable for dynamical modelling. The proposal completed with
no reported problems.

2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:

2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions:

Scheduled Acquisitions: 6

Successful: 6

Per HSTAR 8579, the acquisition at 084/174019Z defaulted to fine
lock backup on FGS-2 only. The proposals defined in1.2 and 1.8 may have
been affected.

Scheduled Re-acquisitions: 8

Successful: 8

2.2 FHST Updates:

Scheduled: 15

Successful: 13

The full maneuver updates at 085/0612Z and at 085/0615Z failed due
to high FHST vehicle errors on both trackers 1 and 3. HSTAR 8580 was written.

2.3 Operations Notes:

Using ROP SR-9A, the SSR-3 EDAC error counter was cleared three times.

The engineering status buffer limit for SESBSLD was modified four
times per ROP DF-18A.

During this operational day, the following operations notes were
performed: