HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE

       DAILY REPORT #2950

PERIOD COVERED:  0000Z (UTC) 09/04/01 - 0000Z (UTC) 09/05/01

Daily Status Report as of 248/0000Z

1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED:

    1.1 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 8919 (MAMA Sensitivity and Focus Monitor C10)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) 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.

    1.2 Completed WF/PC-2 8825 (Decontaminations and Associated 
Observations 4/4)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to perform the monthly decontaminations 
(decons).  Also included are 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.  The proposal completed with no reported problems.

    1.3 Completed Two Sets of STIS/CCD 8901 (Dark Monitor-Part 1)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to 
monitor.  There was no anomalous activity.

    1.4 Completed FGS/1 9169 (An Interferometric Harvest of Double Degenerates)

        Fine Guidance Sensor #1R 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.

    1.5 Completed Two Sets of STIS/CCD 9148 (Light Echos and the Nature of 
Type Ia Supernovae)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to take 
STIS snapshot images of a subset of 43 well observed Type Ia supernovae 
{SNIa}, most of which have been discovered in late type galaxies over the 
last 40 years to make a systematic search for light echos around SN 
Ia.  STIS will also observe a sample of 10 SN II and SN Ib/c, which are 
believed to be the result of massive star core collapse and, therefore, to 
be thin-disk population objects, in order to make an empirical calibration 
of the accuracy of our method for determining scale heights.  The SN Ia 
sample will provide a direct as well as accurate estimate of the scale 
height of SN Ia which is an important clue to the progenitors of these 
events.  The proposal completed nominally

    1.6 Completed 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.

    1.7 Completed Two 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.

    1.8 Completed FGS/1 9034 (The Masses and Luminosities of Population II 
Stars)

        Fine Guidance Sensor #1 was used to observe the mass-luminosity 
relation {MLR} of Population II stars of which very little is currently 
known.  With the advent of the Hipparcos Catalogue, improved distances to 
many spectroscopic binaries known to be Pop II systems are now 
available.  After surveying the literature and making reasonable estimates 
of the secondary masses, we find 13 systems whose minimum separation should 
be larger than the resolution limit of FGS #1.  As described in 2.1 and 
HSTAR 8328, the acquisition for this proposal defaulted to fine lock backup 
on one FGS only, possibly affecting the observations.  Otherwise, the 
observations completed nominally.

    1.9 Completed 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.  As described in 2.1 and HSTAR 8328, the 
acquisition for this proposal defaulted to fine lock backup on one FGS 
only, possibly affecting the observations.  Otherwise, the observations 
completed with no other anomalous activity.

    1.10 Completed Two Sets of STIS/CCD 9285 (POMS Test Proposal: STIS 
Non-scripted Parallel Proposal Continuation III)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to make low 
galactic latitude, non-scripted parallel observations as part of a POMS 
test proposal.  As described in 2.1 and HSTAR 8328, the acquisition for the 
first iteration of this proposal defaulted to fine lock backup on one FGS 
only, possibly affecting the observations.  Otherwise, the observations 
were completed as planned, and no further anomalies were reported.

    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 rpeorted problems.

    1.12 Completed STIS/CCD 9262 (Side-2 Slit Locations)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to measure 
the slit/aperture positions that are expected to be different when the STIS 
is run through side 2 than when it is run from side 1.  This proposal will 
determine the location in pixel coordinates on the STIS CCD detector of the 
positions of the set of STIS acquisition apertures and slits.  This will be 
accomplished by a set of internal exposures, using the tungsten lamp for 
illumination.  All images will be taken with the acquisition mirror.  An 
image will be taken at each nominal slit or aperture position {on the slit 
wheel}.  This activity will also be used to verify repeatability of the 
slit wheel mechanism.  In addition to taking images at the nominal slit 
position, multiple images will be taken for a subset of the slits after 
having moved the slit wheel.  There were no reported problems.

    1.13 Completed Two Sets of STIS/CCD 9052 (A Global Search for 
Alteration Minerals on Mars)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to perform 
high spatial resolution and moderate spectral resolution long-slit imaging 
spectroscopy of Mars, to search for and globally map the presence of 
iron-bearing minerals that are diagnostic of specific climatic 
conditions.  These hyperspectral image cubes will be complemented by 
near-simultaneous WFPC2 UV-VIS imaging that will allow us to quantify the 
effects of water ice clouds or other aerosols on our STIS spectra.  These 
STIS data will provide the ability to detect and map small abundances {~1 
jarosite K, Na, H_3OFe_3{SO_4}_2{OH}_6, goethite {AlphaFeOOH}, hematite 
{alphaFe_2O_3}, and other ferric and ferrous phases.  These minerals are 
formed under specific environmental conditions, and some are potential 
sinks for Martian atmospheric volatiles.  There were no reported problems.

    1.14 Completed WF/PC-2 9133 (Imaging of Gravitational Lenses)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to observe gravitational lenses that offer 
unique opportunities to study cosmology, galactic structure, galaxy 
evolution, quasar hosts and extinction.  They are also the only sample of 
galaxies selected on the basis of their mass rather than their luminosity 
or surface brightness.  While gravitational lenses can be discovered with 
ground-based optical and radio observatories, converting them from 
curiosities into scientific tools requires HST.  There were no reported 
anomalies.

    1.15 Completed Two Sets of STIS/CCD 9284 (POMS Test Proposal: STIS 
Non-Scripted Parallel Proposal Continuation IV)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used in the 
parallel mode to make some low galactic latitude archive observations.  The 
observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted.

    1.16 Completed STIS/MA2 8843 (Cycle 9 MAMA Dark Measurements)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (MA2) was used to perform 
the routine monitoring of the MAMA detector dark noise.  The proposal 
completed nominally.

2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:

    2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions:
       Scheduled Acquisitions: 11
Successful: 11

        Per HSTAR 8328, the acquisition at 247/102116Z defaulted to fine 
lock backup on FGS-3 only.  The proposals detailed in 1.8, 1.9 and 1.10 may 
have been affected.
  Scheduled Re-acquisitions:  6
Successful:  6

    2.2 FHST Updates:
Scheduled: 25
Successful: 23

        HSTAR 8327 reports that the full maneuver updates scheduled for 
247/125329Z and at 127/125614Z failed due to tracker #3.

    2.3 Operations Notes:

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

        The engineering status buffer (ESB) limits were adjusted three 
times per ROP DF-18A.  Using the same ROP, the ESB was dumped and cleared 
at 248/0613Z

        The SSR pointer was set at 247/2302Z as directed by ROP SR-3.

3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS:

        Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations.

/CAW