HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE

   DAILY REPORT #2924

PERIOD COVERED:  0000Z (UTC) 07/27/01 - 0000Z (UTC) 07/30/01

Daily Status Report as of 211/0000Z

1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED:

    1.1 Completed STIS/CCD 9121 (Evolution of the Host Galaxies in Low- 
Power AGN)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to study 
the evolution of low-power AGN host galaxies to z~1.3, allowing the direct 
study of how the formation and life cycles of radio-loud AGN depend on 
intrinsic power.  There were no reported problems.

    1.2 Completed Fifteen Sets of WF/PC-2 9244 (POMS Test Proposal: WFII 
Parallel Archive Proposal Continuation)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to perform a generic target version of the 
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 observations completed with no anomalous 
activity.

    1.3 Completed Five Sets of STIS/CCD 8864 (CCD Dark Monitor-Part 2)

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

    1.4 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2 9255 (Cycle 10 WF/PC-2 Astrometric 
Effects of CTE)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to quantify the astrometric effects of CTE by 
measuring: {1} the relative separation of a bright source vs. a faint 
target at different positions on the PC1 CCD and {2} the relative motion of 
a source on the CCD compared to very precise slews performed with the 
FGSs.  These tests will be conducted for point and extended targets at 
several different intensity levels.  No problems were encountered.

    1.5 Completed Three Sets of STIS/CCD 8865 (Bias Monitor-Part 2)

        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.  As documented in HSTAR 8286 and 2.1, the acquisition for the 
second iteration of this proposal defaulted to fine lock backup on one FGS 
only, possibly affecting one observation.  Otherwise, the proposal 
completed with no other anomalous activity.

    1.6 Completed WF/PC-2 8632 (A UV Atlas of Nearby Galaxies)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to perform a snapshot survey of local galaxies 
at UV wavelengths with the F300W filter.  The aim of the project is to 
build a reference UV Atlas of normal galaxies, whose optical images are 
well known, with the highest possible degree of information, covering all 
the morphological types and luminosity classes.  The proposal completed 
normally.

    1.7 Completed Twenty Sets of STIS/CCD 8808 (POMS Test Proposal: STIS 
Non-Scripted Parallel Proposal Continuation III)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to make 
non-scripted, parallel observations as part of a POMS test proposal.  The 
observations completed with no anomalous activity.

    1.8 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2 8601 (A Snapshot Survey of Probable 
Nearby Galaxies)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to continue the very successful snapshot 
survey in order to use the high spatial resolution of HST to determine 
whether selected galaxies are nearby on the basis of resolution into stars, 
and the magnitudes and colors of the brightest stars.  There were no 
reported problems.

    1.9 Completed Ten Sets of FGS/1 9169 (An Interferometric Harvest of 
Double Degenerates)

        Fine Guidance Sensor #1 was used to observe the white dwarf mass 
and age distributions that hold clues to the star formation history of our 
Galaxy and the age of the disk.  No problems were reported.

    1.10 Completed Five 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 Three Sets of STIS/CCD 8841 (Hot Pixel Annealing C9)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to improve 
the effectiveness of the CCD hot pixel annealing process.  This is assessed 
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.  The observations completed with no reported problems.

    1.12 Completed WF/PC-2 8682 (A Snapshot Study of 0bservational Cosmology)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to examine the observational constraints on 
the cosmic star formation history that is currently among the most active 
fields in observational cosmology.  The most widely used tracer of the 
co-moving volume-averaged star formation rate {SFR} is the UV luminosity 
density, which early results found to peak at z~1- 2.  The apparent 
identification of the primary epoch of metal production and star formation 
in the Universe led to intense theoretical and observational 
interest.  Nevertheless, and remarkably for such a fundamental observation, 
little is known about the history of star formation in the Universe beyond 
its global average.  There were no reported anomalies.

    1.13 Completed WF/PC-2 8720 (Masses and Multiplicity of Nearby Free- 
floating Methane and L Dwarfs)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to observe 50 very-low-mass objects in the 
solar neighborhood with spectral types of L0 and later {including several 
dwarfs with Methane absorption bands in their atmospheres}.  These objects 
will be observed in two filter bands with the aim to identify close 
companions, measure their colors, and to obtain first epoch data of the 
newly discovered binaries.  The observations completed nominally.

    1.14 Completed Four Sets of WF/PC-2 8828 (Cycle 9 Supplemental Darks pt3/3)

        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 with no reported problems.

    1.15 Completed WF/PC-2 8585 (Cosmological Parameters from Type Ia 
Supernovae at High Redshift)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to measure the cosmological parameters, Omega, 
Lambda, and thus the curvature, Omega_k, using Type Ia supernovae {SNe Ia} 
as calibrated standard candles.  There were no reported problems.

    1.16 Completed WF/PC-2 8220 (Galaxy M/L Ratios, the Morphology-Density 
Relation, and Weak Lensing in the z=0.93 Cluster of 3C336)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to obtain deep mosaic images for the radio 
selected cluster around 3C336 at z=0.93.  This proposal is the last part of 
a program to take large HST WFPC2 mosaics of distant clusters.  We augment 
the HST mosaics of the clusters with extensive ground-based spectroscopy 
and imaging from the Keck, MMT, ESO-VLT, NTT, and WHT telescopes.  The 
observations completed, and there were no reported problems.

    1.17 Completed STIS/CCD 7912 (STIS Parallel Archive Proposal - Nearby 
Galaxies - Imaging and Spectroscopy)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to make 
parallel observations of nearby galaxies.  This survey will be useful to 
study the star formation histories, chemical evolution, and distances to 
these galaxies.  These data will be placed immediately into the Hubble Data 
Archive.  The observations were completed as scheduled, and no problems 
were reported.

    1.18 Completed WF/PC-2 9043 (Cepheid Distances to Early-type Galaxies)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to continue observations in the HST Key 
Project on the Extragalactic Distance Scale and the HST project on the 
"Calibration of Nearby Type Ia Supernovae'' that have greatly improved our 
knowledge of the Hubble Constant by providing a solid zero point for the 
Tully- Fisher {TF} relation and Type Ia Supernovae {SNIa}.  However, severe 
inconsistencies remain for distance estimators to early-type galaxies such 
as surface brightness fluctuations {SBF}, the planetary nebula luminosity 
function {PNLF}, the fundamental plane {FP}, and the globular cluster 
luminosity function {GCLF}.  As a result, the distance to the Virgo cluster 
core remains uncertain by as much as 20 determination is directly affected 
by a lingering 0.1 mag {5 uncertainty in the photometric calibration of the 
WFPC2.  Resolving these issues is essential not only to firm up the 
extragalactic distance scale, but also to understand the mass and velocity 
structure of the local universe. SBF in particular is emerging as the 
method of choice for mapping local velocity fields to 10, 000 kms because 
it offers an order of magnitude less Malmquist bias than TF, and SNIa are 
too rare to study large scale flows effectively.  This project will tighten 
the photometric calibration of the WFPC2, and provide a solid Cepheid 
calibration for SBF and PNLF.  The observations completed nominally.

    1.19 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2 9160 (Disks and Envelopes of Nearby 
Nebulous Young Stellar Objects: A Snapshot Survey)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to perform a snapshot survey of nearby 
nebulous young stellar objects to study the detailed morphology of the 
their disks and envelopes and probe the effect of inclination on the 
infrared spectral energy distribution of disk/envelope systems.  As 
documented in HSTAR 8286 and 2.1, the acquisition for the first iteration 
of this proposal defaulted to fine lock backup on one FGS only, possibly 
affecting three observations.  Otherwise, the proposal completed as planned.

    1.20 Completed Two Sets of FGS/1 9097 (The Mass-Luminosity Relationship 
for High Mass Stars: Resolving the `Mass Discrepancy' with HST)

        Fine Guidance Sensor #1 was used to investigate the mass-luminosity 
relation for very low mass stars.  This relationship is well determined for 
intermediate-mass stars.  The observations completed with no reported problems.

    1.21 Completed Three Sets of STIS/MA1 8572 (Identifying Normal Galaxies 
at 1.3 < z < 2.5)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (MA1) was used to perform 
studies of faint, distant galaxies.  It is now possible to observe hundreds 
of galaxies out to z=1 and in the range 3 < z < 4.5, yet the redshift range 
1 < z <3 remains largely unexplored.  No problems were noted.

    1.22 Completed WF/PC-2 9042 (An Archive To Detect The Progenitors Of 
Massive, Core-Collapse Supernovae)

         The WF/PC-s was used to search for supernovae which have massive 
star progenitors.  The already extensive HST archive and high-resolution 
ground-based images of galaxies within ~20 Mpc enables us to resolve and 
quantify their individual bright stellar content.  As massive, evolved 
stars are the most luminous single objects in a galaxy, the progenitors of 
core-collapse supernovae should be directly detectable on pre-explosion 
images.  One Type II progenitor has been observed this year, and the 
investigators have proposed a short, companion WFPC2 proposal to confirm 
this candidate and identify a second.  The observations completed nominally.

    1.23 Completed FGS/1 9038 (The Evolution of Cataclysmic Variable Stars)

        Fine Guidance Sensor #1R was used to observe EM Cygni, one of the 
most well-known cataclysmic variable stars {CVs} that is very likely in a 
triple system with a spatially-unresolved K dwarf.  EM Cyg has well 
measured masses, and the white dwarf's mass of 1.1 Msun shows that it must 
have come from an AGB star.  This, together with considerations of binary 
evolution, can be used to predict a lower limit to the present-day 
separation of EM Cyg and the K dwarf of > 18, AU.  Ground-based imaging 
only puts an upper limit on the angular separation of 0.2'', equivalent to 
< 60, AU at the 300, pc distance of EM Cyg; this does not seriously test 
the evolutionary prediction.  With HST and FGS1R, on the other hand, we can 
resolve a separation 6 AU, providing a direct test of the evolutionary path 
that leads to CVs, as well as to the Super-Soft X-ray sources widely 
believed to be the progenitors of Type Ia supernovae.  The proposal had no 
reported anomalous activity.

    1.24 Completed WF/PC-2 9045 (The Relationship Between Radio Luminosity 
and Radio-Loud AGN Host Galaxy Properties)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to determine the relationship between the 
properties of the host galaxies of radio-loud AGN and their radio 
luminosities.  Previous studies in this area with the HST have concentrated 
on the 3C sample which shows a tight correlation between luminosity and 
redshift, such that evolutionary effects cannot be distinguished from those 
depending upon radio luminosity.  Our sample of 46 radio galaxies at z ~ 
0.5 comes from four complete, low-frequency-selected samples of radio 
sources with differing flux limits.  Thus the total sample spans an 
unprecedented three orders of magnitude in radio luminosity at a fixed 
redshift interval.  The proposal completed with no reported problems.

    1.25 Completed WF/PC-2 8773 (Expansion Parallax Distances to Planetary 
Nebulae)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to observe planetary nebulae {PNe} for which 
the lack of reliable distances is especially troubling.  Acquired by 
generalized statistical methods in all but a handful of cases, individual 
PNe distances are often uncertain by factors of two or more.  The 
observations completed nominally.

    1.26 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.

    1.27 Completed WF/PC-2 8820 (Wavelength Stability of Narrow Band and 
Linear Ramp Filters)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to verify the mapping of wavelength as a 
function of CCD position on linear ramp filters and to check for changes in 
central wavelengths of the narrow band filters.  The proposal completed 
nominally.

2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:

    2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions:
       Scheduled Acquisitions: 39
Successful: 39

        The acquisition at 209/210231Z defaulted to fine lock backup on 
FGS-1 only when the scan step limit was exceeded on FGS-2.  HSTAR 8286 was 
written.  The proposals described in 1.5 and 1.19 may have been affected.
  Scheduled Re-acquisitions: 12
Successful: 12

    2.2 FHST Updates:
Scheduled: 88
Successful: 86

        As detailed in HSTAR 8287, the full maneuver updates scheduled at 
211/051500Z and at 211/051745Z failed.

    2.3 Operations Notes:

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

        The 486 engineering status buffer limits were adjusted four times 
per ROP DF-18A.

        Two TTRs were written for required re-transmits during NSSC-1 
uplinks.  In each case ROP NS-5 was used to reset SI C&DH errors.

        The STIS MCE-2 reset at 208/215522Z while the low voltage was on 
and while outside any SAA interval.  ROP NS-12 was used to reset the STIS 
flight software error counter at 208/2204Z.

        The STIS flight software error counter was reset at 209/2109Z (ROP 
NS-12) and SI C&DH errors were reset at 209/2127Z (ROP NS-5).

       There was a STIS EMC retry at 210/122434Z.  ROP NS-12 was used to 
reset the STIS flight software error counter at 210/1246Z.

3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS:

        Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations.

/CAW