HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE

       DAILY REPORT #3001

PERIOD COVERED:  0000Z (UTC) 11/19/01 - 0000Z (UTC) 11/20/01

Daily Status Report as of 324/0000Z

1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED:

    1.1 Completed Six 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.

    1.2 Completed WF/PC-2 9227 (Observations of Astrophysically Important 
Visual Binaries)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to perform observations of three visual binary 
stars that will ultimately yield fundamental astrophysical results, once 
their orbits and masses are determined.  The targets are the following: {1} 
Procyon {P=41 yr}, for which our first WF/PC-2 images yielded an extremely 
accurate angular separation of the bright F star and its very faint 
white-dwarf companion.  Combined with ground-based astrometry of the bright 
star, our observation significantly revised downward the derived masses, 
and brought Procyon A into excellent agreement with theoretical 
evolutionary tracks for the first time.  The mass of Procyon B, however, 
implies a completely unexpected chemical composition for the white dwarf, 
and now poses a sharp evolutionary puzzle.  With the continued monitoring 
proposed here, we will obtain masses to an accuracy of better than one 
percent, providing a test bed for theories of Sun-like stars and white 
dwarfs. {2} G 107-70, a close double white dwarf {P=19 yr} that promises to 
add two accurate masses to the tiny handful of white-dwarf masses that are 
directly known from dynamical measurements. {3} Mu Cas {P=21 yr}, a famous 
metal-deficient G dwarf for which accurate masses will lead to the stars' 
helium contents, with cosmological implications.  No problems were 
encountered for these observations.

    1.3 Completed Three Sets of WF/PC-2 8942 (Cycle 10 Intflat Sweeps and 
Linearity Test)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to monitor the pixel-to-pixel flatfield 
response and provide a linearity check.  These intflat sequences are done 
once during the year and the images will provide a backup database in the 
event of complete failure of the visflat lamp as well as allow monitoring 
of the gain ratios.  There were no reported problems.

    1.4 Completed Three Sets of WF/PC-2 8935 (Cycle 10 Standard Darks)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to obtain dark frames every week in order to 
provide data for the ongoing calibration of the CCD dark current rate, and 
to monitor and characterize the evolution of hot pixels.  Over an extended 
period these data will also provide a monitor of radiation damage to the 
CCDs.  The proposal completed with no reported problems.

    1.5 Completed WF/PC-2 8939 (Cycle 10 Internal Monitor)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to calibrate the internal monitor, to be run 
weekly to monitor the health of the cameras.  No problems were encountered.

    1.6 Completed WF/PC-2 8726 (Cometary Knots in Planetary Nebulae)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to make second epoch observations of the 
Cometary Knots in NGC 8653 in order to get a better idea of just how these 
objects are formed by comparison of their spatial motions with that of the 
ambient gas.  The observations completed with no reports of problems.

    1.7 Completed Two Sets of STIS/CCD 8906 (Hot Pixel Annealing)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to measure 
the effectiveness of the CCD hot pixel annealing process 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.  There were no reported problems.

    1.8 Completed WF/PC-2 9091 (Evolution of Star Forming Environments in H 
II Regions)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to look for evaporating gaseous globules and 
silhouette disks in two young clusters and along one molecular cloud 
wall.  The proposal completed nominally.

    1.9 Completed STIS/CCD 8611 (Observations of Nearby Type Ia Supernovae)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to obtain 
UV spectra of five nearby {0.02 < z < 0.08} SNe Ia in the Hubble Flow.  The 
spectra will be taken at weekly intervals over a range in time starting 
slightly before maximum light and extending to +30 days.  These 
observations will accomplish the following three goals: {1} calibration of 
the rest frame UV light curves of SNe Ia and an assessment of their 
potential use as distance indicators through UV light curve shape analyses. 
{2} improvement in our understanding of the physics of SNe Ia, 
metallicity/evolutionary effects and correlations between peak brightness 
and UV spectral features. {3} calibration of the SNe Ia previously observed 
by HST at high-redshift.  This data is crucial for proper cross-filter 
k-corrections and calibration of the supernova photometry.  The 
observations completed with no reported anomalous activity.

    1.10 Completed Three 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.

    1.11 Completed STIS/CCD 9106 (The Biggest Black Holes)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to perform 
searches for supermassive black holes in galaxy centers that have led to 
the discoveries that {1} most or all hot galaxies contain massive dark 
objects at their centers, presumably black holes; and {2} there is a tight 
correlation between the black-hole mass and the luminosity-weighted 
velocity dispersion of the hot component of the galaxy.  This remarkable 
relationship suggests a strong link between black-hole formation, AGN 
activity, and galaxy formation, and once it is understood this link should 
advance our understanding of all three processes.  There were no reported 
problems.

2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:

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

  Scheduled Re-acquisitions: 11
Successful: 11

    2.2 FHST Updates:
Scheduled: 16
Successful: 16

    2.3 Operations Notes:

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

        The engineering status buffer was dumped and the limits reset 
(SESBSLD) at 323/1449Z per ROP DR-18A.

        The ephemeris table was uplinked at 324/0001Z per ROP DF-01A.

3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS:

        Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations.

/CAW