HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE DAILY REPORT #3058 PERIOD COVERED: 0000Z (UTC) 02/15/02 - 0000Z (UTC) 02/18/02 Daily Status Report as of 049/0000Z 1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED: 1.1 Completed Seven 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. 1.2 Completed WF/PC-2 9253 (Cycle 10 Astrometric Monitor) The WF/PC-2 was used to verify relative positions of WF/PC-2 chips with respect to one another. There were no reported problems. 1.3 Completed Three Sets of STIS/CCD 8903 (Bias Monitor - Part 1) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to monitor the bias in the 1x1, 1x2, 2x1, and 2x2 bin settings at gain=1, and 1x1 at gain = 4 to build up high-S/N superbiases and track the evolution of hot columns. There were no problems. 1.4 Completed Eight 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. 1.5 Completed Five Sets of STIS/CCD 8901 (Dark Monitor-Part 1) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to monitor the darks. There was no anomalous activity. 1.6 Completed STIS/CCD 8907 (Spectroscopic Flats C10) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to obtain CCD flats in the spectrographic mode. There were no reported problems. 1.7 Completed STIS/CCD 8669 (Merger-Driven Evolution Of Galactic Nuclei: Observations Of The Toomre Sequence) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to observe galaxy mergers that are believed responsible for triggering starburst and AGN activity in galaxies, and even perhaps transforming spiral galaxies into ellipticals. The proposal completed nominally. 1.8 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. 1.9 Completed STIS/CCD 8912 (Full-Field Sensitivity Monitor C10) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to measure a photometric standard star field in Omega Cen in 50CCD mode every few months to monitor CCD sensitivity over the whole field of view. No problems were encountered. 1.10 Completed Three Sets of WF/PC-2 9060 (Photometry of a Statistically Significant Sample of Kuiper Belt Objects) The WF/PC-2 was used to propel the physical study of KBOs forward by performing accurate photometry at V, R, and I on a sample of up to 150 KBOs. The sample is made up of objects that will be observed at thermal infrared wavelengths by SIRTF and will be used with those data to derive the first accurate diameters and albedos for a large sample of KBOs. The observations completed nominally. 1.11 Completed STIS/CCD 9128 (A Snapshot Survey of Absorption Lines from High Velocity Clouds in the Milky Way) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to search for Mg II and Mg I absorption from Galactic High Velocity Clouds {HVCs} along the sightlines of 51 of the brightest QSOs, BL Lacs and Seyfert 2 galaxies in the sky. The observations completed with no reported problems. 1.12 Completed Three Sets of 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. 1.13 Completed STIS/CCD/MA2 8689 (UV Extinction in Dusty Ellipticals) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA2) was used to perform UV spectroscopy of bright inner parts of two dusty elliptical galaxies to study their ultraviolet extinction, in particular the 2175 Angstrom bump. The observations completed with no anomalous activity. 1.14 Completed Twenty-two 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. 1.15 Completed STIS/MA2 9151 (UV Snapshot Observation of Nearby Star Forming Galaxies) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (MA2) was used to obtain FUV and NUV images of nearby emission- line galaxies with existing star-formation rate {SFR} measurements from their HAlpha flux. Recently, the use of the UV flux as a measure of SFR has gained much popularity for estimating SFRs at different cosmic epochs. However, the SFR estimated from UV flux could be greatly biased due to dust extinction. The KPNO International Spectroscopic Survey {KISS} provides a large sample of nearby HAlpha-selected starforming galaxies for which rich optical spectra are available for measuring metallicity and dust extinction through line ratios. By observing a subset of nearby emission-line galaxies in the KISS sample with the STIS FUV and NUV MAMA, a direct comparison between UV and Halpha SFR estimates will be possible. This will allow us to understand the effect of dust extinction on UV flux for star- forming galaxies over a wide range of HAlpha luminosity, metallicity absolute magnitude, and B-V color . A rough dust extinction curve will be constructed for such objects, making it possible to test plausible dust extinction curves used in previous SFR studies of the distant universe. Also, high-resolution UV images will allow us to search for plausible local counterparts to high redshift galaxies whose rest-frame UV morphology is available from existing optical HST data. There were no reported problems. 1.16 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 8590 (UV Imaging and Spectroscopy of Luminous Blue Compact Galaxies from z=0 to z=1) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used to observe two well-defined samples of low-mass starburst galaxies, one in the local universe {z<0.1} and another at intermediate redshifts {0.2 < z < 0.7}. Both samples show optical sizes, morphologies, emission line widths, and luminosities comparable to those of LBGs at z=3, and are therefore probably the best local analogs and testbeds for further study of LBGs. Our main goals are to: {1} explore the morphologies, surface brightness distributions, and half-light radii of nearby starforming galaxies in the FUV, near Ly-alpha; {2} search for systematic differences among UV, optical, and near-IR morphologies and structural parameters; {3} investigate the intrinsic emission and absorption spectra near Ly-alpha of starbursting dwarf galaxies, with special attention to Ly- alpha profiles and interstellar and stellar photospheric absorption from Si II, O I, C II, Si IV, and C IV; {4} measure their FUV-optical colors and dust extinction properties; and {5} test the hypothesis that low-mass starbursts are the local counterparts of LBGs. The observation completed normally. 1.17 Completed Eleven 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. 1.18 Completed FGS/1 9229 (Orbits of Pre-Main Sequence Binaries) Fine Guidance Sensor #1 was used to dynamically measure the masses of low mass pre-main sequence stars. This is important because there are still no such objects with an accurately measured mass. All observations completed without incident. 1.19 Completed Three Sets of WF/PC-2 9101 (Toward Understanding the Bipolar Geometries of Preplanetary Nebulae with High-Velocity Polar Flows) The WF/PC-2 was used to image 17 pre-planetary nebula for comparison with high-resolution spectral-line images {being obtained with VLA/MERLIN/ATCA}, enabling us to understand the fast outflow and how its hydrodynamical interaction with the AGB wind produces a bipolar nebula. No problems were reported. 1.20 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1/MA2 8916 (Spectroscopic Sensitivity Workout: First-order Modes) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD, MA1 and MA2) was used to measure the basic sensitivity for all supported MAMA and CCD first-order spectroscopic modes. Sensitivity measurements are done for all supported tilts of the gratings, at a S/N suitable to any particular setting, in order to get all measurements done in a reasonable number of orbits but still get a very accurate sensitivity measurement. There were no reported problems. 1.21 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1/MA2 9113 (Solar UV Radiation and the Origin of Life on Earth) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD, MA1 and MA2) was used to observe chromospheric models that will enable the proposers to predict the extreme-UV emission of the early Sun and its consequences for the erosion of the early Earth's atmosphere and the altered oxidation state of the planet, and investigate the effect of metallicity on the UV emission and its consequences for the photochemistry of Earth-like planets. There was no anomalous activity. 1.22 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1/MA2 8919 (MAMA Sensitivity and Focus Monitor C10) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD, MA1 and MA2) was used to monitor the sensitivity of each MAMA grating mode to detect any change due to contamination or other causes, and also to monitor the STIS focus in a spectroscopic and an imaging mode. All observations were successful. 1.23 Completed STIS/CCD/MA2 9048 (Boron Constraints on Slow Mixing in Low Mass Stars) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA2) was used to observe the atomic and nuclear characteristics of the light elements Li, Be and B, that make their photospheric abundances ideal tracers of internal physical processes in stars. Both Li and Be have been heavily utilized to this end since their diminished abundances are a direct result of the extent of internal slow mixing between surface and interior layers, as has been shown with ground-based data. Boron provides a fresh and special probe because it survives to greater depths inside stars than does Li or Be, and can thus uniquely reveal the depth of mixing. It is proposed to observe B in stars with very large depletions of Li and Be, i.e. stars which have been the most seriously affected by mixing. No problems occurred. 1.24 Completed FGS/1 8898 (Calibrating FGS1r's Interferometric Response as a Function of Spectral Color) Fine Guidance Sensor #1 was used to obtain reference point source Transfer Functions {S-Curves} through the F583W filter and the F5ND attenuator at the center position of the FGS1r FOV for a variety of stellar spectral colors. The data will be added to the library of point source interferograms that was assembled from the Cycles 8 and 9 calibration program. These Transfer Functions are needed to support the analysis of GO science data for the study of close and wide binary star systems and for determining the angular diameter of extended sources. The proposal completed with no reported problems. 1.25 Completed STIS/CCD 8908 (CCD Imaging Flats C10) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to investigate flat-field stability over a monthly period. The proposal completed with no reported problems. 1.26 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1/MA2 9036 (An Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Survey of Star-Forming Galaxies in the Local Universe) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD, MA1 and MA2) was used to perform a comprehensive STIS ultraviolet spectroscopic survey of star-forming galaxies in the local universe. The sample covers a broad range of morphologies, chemical composition, and luminosity. The observations will provide spectral coverage between 1200 and 3100 Angstrom, at a resolution of 100 to 200 kms and S/N of about 30. The data set will allow the proposers to document and quantify the effects of massive stars on the interstellar medium and to infer implications for the evolution of the host galaxies. The proposal completed with no anomalous activity. 1.27 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1/MA2 8635 (A Test Of Pulsation And Diffusion Theory For Subluminous B Stars) The Space telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD, MA1 and MA2) was used to confirm the recent discovery of radial and nonradial mode pulsations in nearly 20 sdB stars that makes it possible to use asteroseismology to probe the internal structure of these stars and discern their evolutionary status. This is needed for reasons as diverse as understanding the late stages of stellar evolution and the calibration of the observed ultraviolet upturn in giant elliptical galaxies as an age indicator. The observations completed with no anomalous activity 1.28 Completed STIS/CCD 9066 (Closing in on the Hydrogen Reionization Edge of the Universe) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used in parallel constrain the Hydrogen reionization edge in emission that marks the transition from a neutral to a fully ionized IGM at a predicted redshifts. The proposal completed uneventfully 1.29 Completed FGS/1 9168 (The Distances to AM CVn Stars) Fine Guidance Sensor (FGS) #1 was used to determine the parallaxes and proper motions of the five brightest of the seven known AM CVn systems. AM CVn systems are binaries where mass is transferred from a completely hydrogen-deficient, degenerate mass donor to a white dwarf primary through a helium accretion disk. A better understanding of these systems is crucial for a number of reasons: (1) to study the late stages of binary evolution, (2) to study the effect of chemical composition on the physics of accretion discs, (3) to estimate their contribution to the Supernovae Ia rate, and (4) to estimate their contribution to the gravitational radiation background. All observations completed with no reported problems. 2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY: 2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions: Scheduled Acquisitions: 33 Successful: 33 Scheduled Re-acquisitions: 9 Successful: 9 2.2 FHST Updates: Scheduled: 83 Successful: 81 The updates at 047/173903Z and at 049/005821Z failed. 2.3 Operations Notes: Using ROP SR-1A, the SSR-1 EDAC error counter was cleared six times. The SSR-3 EDAC error counter was cleared once per ROP SR-9A. Per ROP DF-18A, the CCS engineering status buffer limit for SESBSLD was adjusted three times. Per an operations requests: the MAMA threshold limits were adjusted, the pressure-based battery capacity equations were updated, and limit changes were made for SSR-3 operations. The NSSC-1 status buffer was dumped at 047/0747Z as directed by ROP NS-03. A TTR was written for a required re-transmit during a NSSC-1 load. SI C&DH errors were reset at 048/1811Z per ROP NS-05. 3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS: Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations. /CAW