Hubble Space Telescope Daily Report #3103 – 26 Apr 2002

HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE

DAILY REPORT #3103

PERIOD COVERED: 0000Z (UTC) 04/25/02 – 0000Z (UTC) 04/26/02

Daily Status Report as of 116/0000Z

1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED:

1.1 Completed WF/PC-2 9058 (Trigonometric Parallax of the Globular
Cluster 47 Tucanae)

The WF/PC-2 was used measure the trigonometric parallax of 47 Tuc,
which is about 1/4 milliarcsec, to an accuracy of 10%. By repeating a
field that was observed in 1995, we will measure the secular motion of the
cluster stars with respect to the SMC background with sufficient accuracy
that the parallax can be measured directly from the displacements within
Cycle 10. Constraints of orientation, and the shape of the WFPC2
footprint, require that we take images at 3-month intervals, rotating 90
degrees each time. The proposal completed with no reported problems.

1.2 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.

1.3 Completed Two Sets of ACS/WFC 9575 (Default {Archival} Pure
Parallel Program)

The Advanced Camera for Surveys (WFC) was used to test ACS pure
parallels in POMS. There were no reported problems.

1.4 Completed Ten 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. No problems were encountered.

1.5 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.

1.6 Completed Two Sets of STIS/CCD 8902 (Dark Monitor-Part 2)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to monitor
the darks. No problems were reported.

1.7 Completed Seven 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. There were no
problems reported.

1.8 Completed STIS/CCD 8904 (Bias Monitor-Part 2)

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 in order to build up high-S/N superbiases and track the evolution
of hot columns. The proposal completed with no anomalous activity.

1.9 Completed WF/PC-2 9050 (Outflow Collimation in Bipolar Symbiotic
Nebulae)

The WF/PC-2 was used to observe flow collimation in evolved stars
that is neither expected nor understood. Classical theories of stellar
evolution do not predict and cannot explain this bipolarity. More exotic
concepts {binary interactions, spun-up atmospheres, poloidal or toroidal
magnetized winds} have been proposed, but observations are yet to verify or
falsify any of their predictions. This proposal will probe the
near-nuclear morphology and kinematics of four bright, low-extinction
targets whose large-scale structure is highly bipolar. The goal is to
provide a detailed description of the circumnuclear outflows, to uncover
the physical structure and nature of the collimator, and to evaluate the
speculative collimation mechanisms. The bright nucleus has hampered
efforts to explore the nebular collimators that lie close to the star, so
we’ll use STIS to disperse the nuclear light and, thus, to avoid its
glare. A secondary goal is to obtain second-epoch WFPC2 images of all
targets. There were no reported problems.

1.10 Completed Three 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. There were no reported 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 9157 (Fundamental Properties Of L-Type Dwarfs
In Binaries)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to
characterize the physical properties of eight L-dwarfs in four binary
systems. The goal is to obtain astrometric, photometric and spectroscopic
measurements of each component that will yield basic information on
atmospheric and dynamical properties. The proposal completed nominally.

1.13 Completed Two 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.

1.14 Completed ACS/WFC 9584 (ACS Default {Archival} Pure Parallel
Program II)

The Advanced Camera for Surveys (WFC) was used to test ACS pure
parallels. The proposal completed with no reported problems.

1.15 Completed 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.

1.16 Completed Four Sets of NICMOS/1/2/3 8944 (Filter Wheel/Mechanisms
Mini-Functional Test)

The Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Camera (NIC1, NIC2 and
NIC3) was used to perform an early engineering test to verify the
aliveness, functionality, operability, and electro-mechanical calibration
of the NICMOS filter wheel motors and assembly. This was the first use of
the NICMOS filter wheel mechanisms since they were disabled by ground
command in January, 1999. This test was designed to obviate concerns over
possible deformation or breakage of the fitter wheel “soda-straw” shafts
due to excess rotational drag torque and/or bending moments which may be
imparted due to changes in the dewar metrology from warm-up/cool-down. No
anomalous incident occurred.

1.17 Completed STIS/CCD 9077 (Survey of the LMC Planetary Nebulae)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to perform
a snapshot survey of all known LMC planetary nebulae {PNe} in order to
study the co-evolution of the nebulae and their central stars, and to probe
the chemical enrichment history of the LMC. There were no reported problems.

1.18 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 8962 (Contamination Monitor)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used to
observe a flux standard GRW +70 5824 to assess whether FUV sensitivity is
significantly below performance obtained during execution of 8961 {End of
BEA Test} and prior to SM3B. Significantly degraded sensitivity will
trigger additional observations of flux standards to validate the initial
result and/or track subsequent {de}contamination. GRW +70 5824 is observed
bimonthly in the same mode as part of the regular STIS monitoring
program. Measurement accuracy will be limited global sensitivity
fluctuations {less than 5%}, rather than photon counting statistics. No
anomalous activity was observed.

2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:

2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions:

Scheduled Acquisitions: 7

Successful: 7

Scheduled Re-acquisitions: 5

Successful: 5

2.2 FHST Updates:

Scheduled: 26

Successful: 25

Per HSTAR 8627, the roll delay update at 115/220401Z failed due to
tracker #1. The subsequent full maneuver updates were successful.

2.3 Operations Notes:

The NSSC-1 status buffer was dumped and reset a5 115/1116Z per ROP
NS-3.

Operations requests were used to:

Enable Filter Move, Day 115-1 @115/1618z

Enable Filter Wheel Move, Day 115-2 @115/2236z

Vehicle Control Law Rate Gain Factor Change @115/1526z

HLGBU GYRO Triplets U/L @115/1447z

Configure SDH Science Tasking Orders @115/1610z

Set Up Tasking Order for FSW Test @115/1616z

Configure Tasking Order after FSW Test Activities @115/2304z

A TTR was generated when there was a required re-transmits (at
115/190618Z and at 115/191520Z) during a NSSC-1 uplink. Accordingly, SI
C&DH error were reset at 115/1917Z, using ROP NS-5.

The 486 engineering status buffer limits were adjusted at 115/2213Z
as directed by ROP DF-18A.

Using ROP DF-01A, a 486 table was dumped at 115/1923Z.

3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS:

Continuation of Servicing Mission Orbital Verification and the
gradual resumption of normal science observations and calibrations.