HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE

       DAILY REPORT #3030

PERIOD COVERED:  0000Z (UTC) 01/08/02 - 0000Z (UTC) 01/09/02

Daily Status Report as of 009/0000Z

1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED:

    1.1 Completed 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.

    1.2 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.

    1.3 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2 8935 (Cycle 10 Standard Darks)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to obtain dark frames every week in order to 
provide data for the ongoing calibration of the CCD dark current rate, and 
to monitor and characterize the evolution of hot pixels.  Over an extended 
period these data will also provide a monitor of radiation damage to the 
CCDs.  The proposal completed with no reported problems.

    1.4 Completed STIS/CCD/MA2 9084 (Physical Parameters of the Erupting 
Luminous Blue Variable NGC 2363-V1)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA2) was used to 
observe a bright variable star in the giant extragalactic H , ii region NGC 
2363 discovered in 1992.  Subsequent photometry and high quality 
spectroscopy of this star revealed that observers are witnessing a 
significant event in the evolution of a massive star, namely a major 
eruption of a Luminous Blue Variable {LBV}.  It is proposed to obtain high 
quality STIS spectra of this star once a year for the next three observing 
Cycles.  The proposal completed nominally.

    1.5 Completed 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.

    1.6 Completed WF/PC-2 9118 (Tracing the Cosmic Expansion to z>1 with 
Type Ia Supernovae)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to observe type Ia supernovae in order to 
provide evidence for an accelerating universe.  The case for cosmic 
acceleration rests almost entirely on the observation that the observed SN 
Ia at z~0.5 are 0.25 magnitudes fainter than expected for a 
non-accelerating Universe.  It is proposed to follow five SN Ia in the 
range 0.95<z<1.2 using the 850LP filter.  When combined with a ground-based 
J-band follow-up campaign, the proposers can expect to measure the mean 
luminosity distance of the sample at z~ 1.05 to better than 5.  At these 
redshifts, the effect of Omega_Lambda has all but vanished and the Universe 
was decelerating due to its known matter content.  Because any simple 
systematic error will deviate substantially from the non-monotonic effect 
of a Omega_Lambda > 0 cosmology, this experiment is a powerful and 
straightforward way to assess the reliability of the SN Ia 
measurements.  In addition, if SN Ia are reliable standard candles, the 
proposed observations will significantly increase the precision with which 
Omega_Lambda and Omega_M are measured.  There was no reported anomalous 
activity.

    1.7 Completed STIS/CCD 8906 (Hot Pixel Annealing)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to measure 
the effectiveness of the CCD hot pixel annealing process by measuring the 
dark current behavior before and after annealing and by searching for any 
window contamination effects.  In addition, CTE performance is examined by 
looking for traps in a low signal level flat.  There were no reported problems.

    1.8 Two Sets of WF/PC-2 8942 (Cycle 10 Intflat Sweeps and Linearity Test)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to monitor the pixel-to-pixel flatfield 
response and provide a linearity check.  These intflat sequences are done 
once during the year and the images will provide a backup database in the 
event of complete failure of the visflat lamp as well as allow monitoring 
of the gain ratios.  There were no reported problems.

2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:

    2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions:
       Scheduled Acquisitions:  3
    Successful:  3

        Per HSTAR 8460, at 008/182210 the scan step limit was exceeded on 
FGS-3.  On the second attempt, however, fine lock was successful.  No 
science was affected.
  Scheduled Re-acquisitions: 11
    Successful: 11

    2.2 FHST Updates:
    Scheduled:  8
    Successful:  8

    2.3 Operations Notes:

        Using ROP SR-1A, the SSR-1 EDAC error counter was cleared three times.

3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS:

        Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations.

/CAW