Hubble Space Telescope Daily Report #3106 – 1 May 2002

HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE

DAILY REPORT #3106

PERIOD COVERED: 0000Z (UTC) 04/30/02 – 0000Z (UTC) 05/01/02

Daily Status Report as of 121/0000Z

1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED:

1.1 Completed Five 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.

1.2 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.

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

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA2) was used to
perform daily monitoring of the NUV MAMA detector dark noise, monitoring
the effects of thermal changes on the NUV dark rate. No anomalous activity
was noted.

1.4 Completed Two 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.

1.5 Completed STIS/MA1 8922 (FUV-MAMA Cycle 10 Flats)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (MA1) was used to obtain
FUV-MAMA observations of the STIS internal Krypton lamp to construct an FUV
flat applicable to all FUV modes. No problems were encountered.

1.6 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.

1.7 Completed Two Sets of ACS/WFC 9029 (Grism/Prism Performance Check)

The Advance Camera for Surveys (WFC) was used to observe a
Wolf-Rayet star and a White Dwarf the grism of both the Wide Field and
eventually the High Resolution Channels to measure: 1} the dispersion of
the grism and its field dependence; 2} the grism throughput and its field
dependence; 3} the frequency of the flat field variation {L-flat} as a
function of wavelength; 4} the fringe pattern at longer wavelengths as a
function of position on the chip. These measurements will be carried out
at several positions on the chip including the centre and the corners of
the WFC and HRC chips. All observations completed without incident.

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 Four 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.

1.10 Completed ACS/WFC 9587 (HST Imaging Polarimetry of the Light Echo
around V838 Monocerotis)

The Advanced Camera for Surveys (WFC) was used to observe V838
Mon0cerotis which is a completely unanticipated new kind of object:
although it has undergone an outburst somewhat similar to that of an
extremely slow nova, its spectrum is unique and totally unlike that of any
type of nova. Knowledge of its distance and luminosity is crucial in
understanding its nature and origin. Remarkably, a rapidly evolving light
echo around V838 Monocerotis has been detected from the ground in recent
weeks. HST polarimetric imaging over the next few months, as the light
echo expands and fades, will provide a direct geometrical distance to this
object. Since the only previous Galactic nova light echoes occurred in
1901 and 1936, this extraordinary combination of circumstances is unlikely
to recur during the HST mission. All observations completed with no
reported problems.

1.11 Completed Two 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.

1.12 Completed 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.

1.13 Completed STIS/CCD 9050 (Outflow Collimation in Bipolar Symbiotic
Nebulae)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) 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.

1.14 Completed Two 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.

1.15 Completed Three 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.

1.16 Completed 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.

1.17 Completed NIC/1/2/3 8974 (Flats and Temperature Dependence of the DQE)

The Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Camera (NIC1, NIC2 and
NIC3) was used to obtain initial estimates of the detective quantum
efficiency {DQE} of the NICMOS detectors and its temperature dependence in
the previously uncharted temperature regime expected for operation under
the NICMOS Cooling System {NCS}. The observations measured the relative
and absolute DQE variation at three temperature setpoints. In addition,
they provided a monitor for particulate contamination and detector lateral
position. When stars are present in the field of view, they will enable a
preliminary focus determination. No problems were encountered.

1.18 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.

1.19 Completed STIS/CCD/MA2 9051 (Identifying Damped Lyman-alpha
Galaxies at z~1)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA2) was used to
look for damped Lyman-alpha absorption systems that contain the bulk of the
neutral gas in the Universe in the redshift range z = 0.5 – 5, yet the
nature of the galaxies responsible for the absorption is not well
understood. Only recently have observers found more than a handful of
damped absorbers at redshifts z < 1.5. Using the FIRST Bright Quasar Survey {FBQS}, with over a 1000 quasars, the proposers have undertaken a survey to build a complete picture of he nature of the galaxies responsible for damped Lyman-alpha absorption systems at z~1 and to double the sample size at this redshift. No problems were encountered.

1.20 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.

2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:

2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions:

Scheduled Acquisitions: 13

Successful: 13

Scheduled Re-acquisitions: 2

Successful: 2

2.2 FHST Updates:

Scheduled: 27

Successful: 27

2.3 Operations Notes:

The SSR-3 EDAC error counter was cleared at 120/1422Z and at
120/1810Z per ROP SR-9A.

Using an operations request, the NICMOS Cooling System alternate
PID Setpoint was adjusted by 0.5 degK to 72.5 degK at the weighted average
neon temperature at 120/1840Z. The compressor speed ramped back to
approximately 6890 rps to accommodate the transition to the new control
point temperature.

Another NICMOS filter wheel test was concluded at
120/2238Z. Analysis of the data indicates that all functions performed as
expected with results closely approximating those obtained in 1997.

3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS:

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