HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE

       DAILY REPORT #2957

PERIOD COVERED:  0000Z (UTC) 09/14/01 - 0000Z (UTC) 09/17/01

Daily Status Report as of 260/0000Z

1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED:

    1.1 Completed Twenty 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.

    1.2 Completed Six 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.

    1.3 Completed Seven Sets of WF/PC-2 8936 (Cycle 10 Supplemental Darks 
Pt1/3)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to perform a dark calibration program that 
obtains three dark frames every day to provide data for monitoring and 
characterizing the evolution of hot pixels.  The proposal completed with no 
reported problems.

    1.4 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.

    1.5 Completed Five 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 HSTAR 8346 and 2.1, the acquisition for the 
third iteration of this proposal defaulted to fine lock backup on one FGS 
only, possibly affecting the observations in this iteration.  Otherwise, 
the observations were completed as planned, and no further anomalies were 
reported.

    1.6 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.

    1.7 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.

    1.8 Completed Five Sets of WF/PC-2 8941 (Cycle 10 UV Earthflats)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to monitor flat field stability by obtaining 
sequences of earth streak flats to improve the quality of pipeline flat 
fields for the WFPC2 UV filter set.  The proposal had no problems.

    1.9 Completed WF/PC-2 8584 (Calibrating the Metallicity Dependence of 
the Cepheid PL Relation)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to determine the uncertainty in the metal 
abundance dependence of the Cepheid PL relation that remains as one of the 
largest sources of systematic error in the Cepheid distance scale and in 
the extragalactic distance scale as a whole.  There were no reported problems.

    1.10 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.

    1.11 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.

    1.12 Completed STIS/CCD 9051 (Identifying Damped Lyman-alpha Galaxies 
at z~1)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to look for 
samped Lyman-alpha absorption systems that contain the bulk of the neutral 
gas in the Universe in the redshift range z = 0.5 - 5, yet the nature of 
the galaxies responsible for the absorption is not well understood.  Only 
recently have observers found more than a handful of damped absorbers at 
redshifts z < 1.5.  Using the FIRST Bright Quasar Survey {FBQS}, with over 
a 1000 quasars, the proposers have undertaken a survey to build a complete 
picture of he nature of the galaxies responsible for damped Lyman-alpha 
absorption systems at z~1 and to double the sample size at this 
redshift.  No problems were encountered.

    1.13 Completed 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.

    1.14 Completed STIS/CCD/MA2 9040 (Baryons In Intermediate Redshift {Z > 
1} OVI Absorbers)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA2) was used to 
search for intervening OVI absorption systems in two further extremely UV 
bright intermediate redshift QSOs {HS 0747 + 4259, z = 1.9, V = 15.6; HS 
0818+2554, z = 1.5, V = 15.4} using the STIS E230M Echelle mode.  The 
scientific aim is to measure the baryonic fraction in the warm-hot 
intergalactic medium at redshifts 1 <=q z <=q 1.8.  Present existing data 
on HE 0515-4414 taken also with STIS E230M seem to indicate that the 
baryonic fraction at z = 1.5 is lower by a factor of ~ 15 than the high 
value found by Tripp et al. {2000} for z < 0.3.  Our results need to be 
confirmed by more lines of sight, and we plan to test hierarchical 
structure formation models which predict a rapid evolution between z = 1.5 
and z = 0.  The observations completed as planned with no reported 
anomalous activity.

    1.15 Completed 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.  As 
detailed in 2.1 and HSTAR 8344, the acquisition for this proposal defaulted 
to fine lock backup on one FGS only, possibly affecting six 
observations.  Otherwise, the observations completed nominally.

    1.16 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 9064 (HI Detection of an Extra-Solar 
Planetary Atmosphere)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used to 
observe the extra-solar planet discovered around HD 209458 that is the 
unique one also detected through occultation.  During its transit, we will 
obtain spectra of the HI and DI Lyman-Alpha line at 1215 Angstrom.  No 
problems occurred.

    1.17 Completed STIS/MA2 8710 (Timing And Proper Motion Measurement Of 
The Proposed Optical Counterpart Of The Nearby Pulsar PSR1929+10)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (MA2) was used to observe 
PSR1932+10, an old, nearby isolated neutron star detected as an X-ray 
pulsar.  Optical observations of neutron stars include both young and 
middle-aged objects for which different emission models {e.g. 
magnetospheric and thermal} have been proposed.  However, the general 
picture is far from being clear.  A firm optical identification of 
PSR1929+10 would thus be crucial to understand the long term evolution of 
the optical luminosity of pulsars and to investigate possible turnovers in 
the emission physics.  No anomalous activity occurred.

    1.18 Completed STIC/CCD 8916 (Spectroscopic Sensitivity Workout: 
First-order Modes)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) 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.

    1.19 Completed WF/PC-2 9249 (POMS Test Proposal: WFII Backup Parallel 
Archive Proposal II)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to execute a POMS test proposal designed to 
simulate scientific plans.  The proposal completed with no reported problems.

    1.20 Completed 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.

    1.21 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.

    1.22 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2/STIS/CCD 8577 (Ozone, Condensates, 
and Dust in the Martian Atmosphere)

        The WF/PC-2 and the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) were 
used to study the spatial and seasonal variations in ozone, condensates, 
and dust in the Martian atmosphere.  The data obtained promise to be 
critical in addressing recent breakthroughs in understanding the basic 
radiative, transport, and microphysical processes that provide for both 
long-term and short-term balance within the global Mars climate system.  As 
described in HSTAR 8346 and 2.1, the acquisition for the final iteration of 
this proposal defaulted to fine lock backup on one FGS only, possibly 
affecting the observations in this iteration.  There were no other reported 
problems.

    1.23 Completed WF/PC-2 9057 (Host Galaxies of Obscured QSOs Identified 
by 2MASS)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to perform a snapshot survey of red QSOs 
discovered in The Two Micron All Sky Survey {2MASS} to investigate the 
detailed properties of their host galaxies.  This large, possibly dominant, 
population of QSOs in the local universe has been previously overlooked 
because reddening by {intrinsic} obscuration along our line of sight causes 
their colors to be too red for identification by traditional "UV- excess" 
techniques.  Their near-IR colors are similar to PG- type {UV-excess} QSOs, 
but it is far from certain whether they are indeed from the same parent 
population or represent a completely new class of QSO.  As described in 
HSTAR 8346 and 2.1, the acquisition for this proposal defaulted to fine 
lock backup on one FGS only, possibly affecting the observations.  There 
were no other reported problems.

    1.24 Completed WF/PC-2/STIS/CCD 9258 (Observatory Focus Monitor)

        The WF/PC-2 and the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph were used 
to more accurately define the HST focus.  The HST focus drifts slowly and 
shows evidence of undergoing slips of a few microns at random times.  The 
rate of the WF/PC-2 monitoring program is insufficient to track and/or 
understand OTA behavior in order to request timely and appropriate 
Secondary Mirror corrections.  There were no reported problems.

    1.25 Completed STIS/CCD 8929 (First-order LSFs for Pseudo-Aperture 
Locations)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to measure 
the LSFs for the CCD spectroscopic modes at the new pseudo-aperture 
locations.  The proposal completed as planned.

    1.26 Completed Two Sets of 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 9124 (Mid-UV SNAPSHOT Survey of Nearby 
Irregulars: Galaxy Structure and Evolution Benchmark)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to investigate the relation between star 
formation and the global physical characteristics of galaxies to interpret 
the morphologies of distant galaxies in terms of their evolutionary 
status.  Distant galaxies are primarily observed in their rest frame 
mid-ultraviolet.  They resemble nearby late-type galaxies, but are they 
really physically similar classes of objects?  It is proposed to address 
this question through a SNAPSHOT survey in the 2 mid-UV filter F300W of 98 
nearby late-type, irregular and peculiar galaxies.  No problems were reported.

    1.28 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.

    1.29 Completed WF/PC-2 8718 (Understanding the Anomalous Hot Stellar 
Population in Galactic Globular Clusters)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to image in mid- {F255W} and near-UV {F336W} 
the globular cluster NGC6441.  During the HST survey, it was found that 
these objects have a horizontal branch with an anomalously extended blue 
tail and puzzling gaps along it.  There were no reported problems.

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

         The WF/PC-2 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.

    1.31 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 9243 (Probing the Physical Conditoins of an 
Interstellar Bubble around an O Star)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used to 
observe the O star Hd 148937 that is surrounded with an almost spherical H 
II region.  Interior to this H II region are arcuate filaments seen in [O 
III] that delineate the periphery of an interstellar bubble.  Interior to 
this bubble is an unusual bi-polar nebular complex known as NGC 
6164-5.  High resolution STIS spectroscopic observations are to be made 
with the goal of determining the expansion velocity of the interstellar 
bubble and the H II region that encompasses this nebular complex.  The 
column densities deduced from the UV absoption features will pose strong 
constraints on the physics of interstellar bubbles.  The observations 
completed with no reported problems.

    1.32 Completed 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.  The 
proposal completed as planned.

2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:

    2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions:
       Scheduled Acquisitions: 24
Successful: 24

        Per HSTAR 8344, the acquisition at 257/193121Z defaulted to fine 
lock backup on FGS-3 only when the scan step limit was exceeded on 
FGS-2.  The proposal described in 1.15 may have been affected.

        The acquisition at 258/172715Z defaulted to fine lock backup on 
FGS-1 only when the sacna step limit was exceeded on FGS-2.  HSTAR 8346 was 
written.  The proposals detailed in 1.5, 1.22 and 1.23 may have been affected.
  Scheduled Re-acquisitions: 25
Successful: 25

    2.2 FHST Updates:
Scheduled: 60
Successful: 60

    2.3 Operations Notes:

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

        A TTR was written for multiple 32K engineering data dropouts 
beginning at 257/1756Z.  The data is recoverable.

        ROP DF-18A was utilized twice to reset the engineering status 
buffer limits.

        A TTR was generated for data dropouts during a NSSC-1 uplink at 
259/1132Z.  SI C&DH errors were reset at 259/1137Z per ROP NS-5.

        There was an EMC retry at 259/124501Z.  The STIS flight software 
error counter was reset at 259/1245Z, using ROP NS-12.

        Data was lost for the interval 260/0000Z to 260/0025Z due to bad 
weather at WSGT.  A TTR was written.

        ROP SR-4A was used to start and stop SSR engineering data for the 
interval 260/0028Z to 260/0144Z.  ROP SR-8 was also used to command 
autonomous engineering record from 260/0047Z until 260/0144Z.

3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS:

        Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations.

/CAW