Status Report

Hubble Space Telescope Daily Rpeort #2812 20 Feb 2001

By SpaceRef Editor
February 20, 2001
Filed under ,

HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE

DAILY REPORT #2812

PERIOD COVERED: 0000Z (UTC) 02/19/01 – 0000Z (UTC) 02/20/01

Daily Status Report as of 051/0000Z

1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED:

1.1 Completed Three Sets of WF/PC-2 8827 (Cycle 9 Supplemental Darks pt2/3)

The WF/PC-2 was used to obtain three dark frames every day to
provide data for monitoring and characterizing the evolution of hot
pixels. The proposal completed nominally.

1.2 Completed Two Sets of STIS/CCD 8837 (CCD Dark Monitor-Part 1)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to monitor
the darks. The proposal completed with no reported problems.

1.3 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2/STIS/MA1 8686 (LINERs in Early-type
Galaxies: Ionized by the UV-upturn Population?)

The WF/PC-2 and the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (MA1) were
used to investigate the presence of extended ionized gas with LINER spectra
in a large fraction {60-70%} of early-type galaxies. The observations
completed with no reported anomalies.

1.4 Completed WF/PC-2 8816 (Cycle 9 UV Earthflats)

The WF/PC-2 was used to obtain sequences of Earth streak flats to
improve the quality of pipeline flat fields for the WFPC2 UV filter set and
in order to monitor flat field stability. There were no reported problems.

1.5 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2 8823 (Decontaminations and Associated
Observations Pt. 2/4)

The WF/PC-2 was used for the monthly WFPC2 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.

1.6 Completed Two Sets of STIS/CCD 8664 (Structural Measurement of
Globular Clusters in M31 and NGC 5128: Stalking the Fundamental Plane)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to observe
in the snapshot mode to image a wide selection of individual globular
clusters in two other large galaxies {M31 and NGC 5128} for measurement of
their structural parameters {r_c, c, central surface brightness}. We will
use these to compute their binding energies and define the FP in these two
galaxies. Comparison with the Milky Way will then give us powerful new
information on just how “universal” the cluster formation process was in
the early protogalaxies. The observations completed with no reported problems.

1.7 Completed STIS/MA1 8344 (UV Spectral Properties of O and B Stars
Versus Metallicity)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (MA1) was used to perform
slitless UV spectroscopy of bright OB associations in three Local Group
galaxies that span a factor of 30 in metallicity. Our target is
star-forming regions in Sextans A. Metallicity is the most fundamental
parameter governing both stellar and galactic evolution. Yet, little is
known observationally about how metallicity affects the physics of massive
stars. The proposal completed nominally.

1.8 Completed WF/PC-2 8059 (POMS Test Proposal: Targeted Parallel
Archive Proposal)

The WF/PC-2 was used to observe the parallel opportunities
available in the neighborhood of bright galaxies are treated in a slightly
different way from the normal pure parallels. Local Group galaxies offer
the opportunity for a closer look at young stellar
populations. Narrow-band images in F656N can be used both to identify
young stars via their emission lines, and to map the gas distribution in
star-forming regions. The observations completed nominally.

1.9 Completed WF/PC-2 8812 (Cycle 9 Internal Monitor)

The WF/PC-2 was used to obtain routine internal monitors for WFPC2
in order to monitor the health of the cameras. A variety of internal
exposures are obtained in order to provide a monitor of the integrity of
the CCD camera electronics in both bays {gain 7 and gain 15}, a test for
quantum efficiency in the CCDs, and a monitor for possible buildup of
contaminants on the CCD windows. There were no reported problems.

1.10 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2 8805 (POMS Test Proposal: WFII
Parallel Archive Proposal Continuation)

The WF/PC-2 was used to perform a generic target version of the
WFPC2 Archival Pure Parallel program. The program will be used to take
parallel images of random areas of the sky, following the recommendations
of the Parallels Working Group. The proposal completed with no reported
problems.

1.11 Completed S/C 5582 (FOC/48 Monthly Activation (Camera Section
Only): Cycle 4)

This proposal was executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were
noted. Completed STIS/CCD 8838 (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. The proposal completed nominally.

1.12 Completed FOC/96 7923 (FOC F/96 Turn-on)

The Faint Object Camera (f/96) was used to take an internal flat
and a dark to ensure that the 30-day limit for the FOC is not
exceeded. The observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies
were noted.

1.13 Completed STIS/CCD 8562 (Probing the Large Scale Structure: Cosmic
Shear Observations)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to probe
the distortion of light bundles from distant galaxies, looking at the
statistical properties of the intervening inhomogeneous {dark} matter
distribution. The proposal completed nominally.

1.14 Completed STIS/CCD 8838 (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. The proposal completed nominally.

1.15 Completed STIS/CCD 8845 (Spectroscopic Flats C9)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to obtain
CCD flats in the spectroscopic mode. The observations completed with no
reported problems.

1.16 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 8662 (A Snapshot Survey of the Hot
Interstellar Medium)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD And MA1) was used to
obtain snapshot STIS echelle observations of key tracers of hot
interstellar gas {C IV, N IV, and Si IV} for selected FUSE Team O VI survey
targets with known UV fluxes. By taking advantage of the snapshot
observing mode we will efficiently obtain a large number of spectra
suitable for the study of the highly ionized hot component of the
interstellar medium {ISM}. Our goals are to explore the physical
conditions in and distribution of such gas, as well as to explore the
nature of the interfaces between the hot ISM and the other interstellar gas
phases. The observations completed with no reported problems.

1.17 Completed STIS/CCD/MA2 8627 (Testing Theories Of Wind/Jet
Production In YSOs)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA2) was used to
test theories of jet/wind production from the accretion disks of low-mass
young stellar objects, providing new insight into disk physics, accretion
energy balance, and jet collimation. Observations of the Fe II ultraviolet
lines in absorption will probe lower-density and lower-temperature material
than optical forbidden and permitted emission lines, and thus provide
unique information on jet/wind launching and
acceleration. Velocity-resolved spectra will distinguish between X-wind
models, in which all the mass ejection occurs from the inner disk edge, and
disk wind models, where the flow originates from a much larger area of the
disk. The proposal completed nominally.

2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:

2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions:

Scheduled Acquisitions: 7

Successful: 7

Scheduled Re-acquisitions: 10

Successful: 10

2.2 FHST Updates:

Scheduled: 13

Successful: 13

2.3 Operations Notes:

The SSR EDAC error counter was cleared on three occasions per ROP
SR-1A.

Using ROP DF-18A, the engineering status buffer was dumped and
reset at 050/1526Z.

HST operations returned to CCS-A at 050/2045Z after the upgrade of
the Network Catalyst card update.

The ephemeris table was uplinked at 051/0049Z as directed by ROP
DF-07A.

3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS:

Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations.

SpaceRef staff editor.