HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE

   DAILY REPORT #2615

PERIOD COVERED:  0000Z (UTC) 05/02/00 - 0000Z (UTC) 05/03/00

Daily Status Report as of 124/0000Z

1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED:

    1.1 Completed STIS/CCD/MA2 8284 (Deep STIS Observations of BALQSO PG 
0946+301)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA2) was used to 
study AGN outflows to determine of the ionization equilibrium and 
abundances (IEA) in broad absorption line {BAL} QSOs.  In the last few 
years it has become clear that partial coverage of the continuum source and 
saturation are common in BALs, and these frustrate attempts to determine 
the IEA from available HST data because of limitations imposed by the S/N 
ratio and spectral coverage. We will re-observe the most suitable BAL IEA 
target: PG 0946+301.  The observation completed with no reported problems.

    1.2 Completed Three Sets of WF/PC-2 8460 (Cycle 8 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 observations completed with no reported problems.

    1.3 Completed Five Sets of WF/PC-2 8445 (WF/PC-2 Cycle 8 Earth Flats)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to make Cycle 8 Earth flat calibration 
observations.  This is to obtain sequences of earth streak flats to 
construct high quality flat fields for the WF/PC-2 filter set.  The 
observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted.

    1.4 Completed Seven 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.  The proposal completed with no reported problems.

    1.5 Completed Two Sets of STIS/CCD 8437 (Dark Monitor-Part 2 C8)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to monitor 
the darks.  The proposal completed nominally.

    1.6 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 8017 (Lyman-Alpha Absorption in Low-z QSO's)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) were used to 
obtain medium-resolution spectra of 3C273 in order to study the properties 
of the Lyman-Alpha forest at low redshift.  The observations completed 
nominally.

    1.7 Completed WF/PC-2 8199 (Local Cosmology: The Nearby Flow Field and 
its Structure)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to make observations of the galaxy NGC2903 in 
order to study its nearby flow field and structure.  Very little data are 
available to constrain the velocity field of galaxies in the local 
neighborhood {<= 500 km/sec}.  The observations were executed as scheduled, 
and no anomalies were noted.

    1.8 Completed Two Sets of STIS/CCD 8549 (POMS Test Proposal: 
Non-Scripted Parallel Proposal Continuation I)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to make low 
galactic latitude, non-scripted parallel observations as part of a POMS 
test proposal.  The observations were completed as planned, and no 
anomalies were reported.

    1.9 Completed WF/PC-2 8234 (Calibrating Star Formation with the 
Metal-Rich Starburst Galaxy M83 {NGC5236})

        The WF/PC-2 was used to study the structure of the prime nearby 
example of a metal-rich, actively star- forming environment: the starburst 
located in the nuclear region of the spiral galaxy M83.  In M83 the PC 
gives 1 pc resolution so we can chart the detailed structure of this dusty 
but UV-bright system. For this purpose we will obtain broad-band images in 
the mid-UV, V, and I bands to locate and characterize stars, star clusters, 
and obscuring dust clouds, as well as HAlpha, HBeta, OIII, and SII narrow 
band images to diagnose conditions in the ionized ISM.  The observations 
completed nominally.

    1.10 Completed STIS/CCD 8439 (Bias Monitor-Part 2 C8)

        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.  The proposal completed with no reported problems.

    1.11 Completed STIS/CCD 8291 (The Alpha-Element/Iron Ratio in Starburst 
Populations)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to observe 
A and F supergiants in NGC1569, the closest starburst galaxy.  Spectra 
around 6200 Angstrom taken with the G750M grating will be used to determine 
element abundances of Fe and several Alpha-elements.  The galaxy has 
experienced a strong starburst over the past few hundred Myr and possibly 
only very few and much less intense episodes of star formation at earlier 
epochs.  Chemical evolution models predict a significant Alpha/Fe 
enhancement in the galaxy.  The proposal completed with no reported anomalies.

    1.12 Completed WF/PC-2 8544 (POMS Test Proposal: WFII Backup Parallel 
Archive Proposal II)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to execute a POMS test proposal which was 
designed to simulate scientific plans.  No problems were encountered.

2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:

    2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions:
       Scheduled Acquisitions: 5
Successful: 5

  Scheduled Re-acquisitions: 5
Successful: 5

    2.2 FHST Updates:
Scheduled: 11
Successful: 11

    2.3 Operations Notes:

        The SSR EDAC error counter was cleared once per ROP SR-1A.

        Using ROP IC-2, SSA transmitter 2R was turned on and off for one 
interval.

        HSTAR 7584 was written when the SADE-2 +SADM temperature 3 
(BE2%DMT3) limit flagged high with a value of 85.8 degC (the upper limit is 
70 degC).  In the sample just before the limit violation, the value was 
29.4 degC.  The parameter has been fluctuating between 85 and 87 degC since.

        There was a STIS EMC retry at 123/222118Z.  The STIS flight 
software error counter was cleared at 123/2226Z as directed by ROP NS-12.

3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS:

        Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations.

/CAW