HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE

       DAILY REPORT #3002

PERIOD COVERED:  0000Z (UTC) 11/20/01 - 0000Z (UTC) 11/21/01

Daily Status Report as of 325/0000Z

1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED:

    1.1 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 reported problems.

    1.2 Completed Nine 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.

    1.3 Completed Two 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.

    1.4 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.

    1.5 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.

    1.6 Completed STIS/CCD/MA2 8569 (A New Survey for Low-Redshift Damped 
Lyman-Alpha Lines in QSO MgII Systems)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA2) was used to 
support studies which have shown that most of the observable neutral gas 
mass in the Universe resides in QSO damped LyAlpha {DLA} systems.  However, 
at low redshift, DLA can only be found by searching in the UV with HST.  By 
boot-strapping from the MgII statistics, we will be able to further improve 
the determination of the low- redshift statistical properties of DLA {their 
incidence and cosmological mass density} and open up new opportunities for 
studies at low redshift.  The observations completed nominally.

    1.7 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.

    1.8 Completed WF/PC-2/STIS/CCD 8324 (The Structure and Kinematics of 
Irradiated Disks and Associated High Velocity Features in Orion)

        Both the WF/PC-2 and the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) 
were used to make observations of high velocity feature M-42-LV2-LV located 
within the Orion Nebula.  The STIS provides us with a unique opportunity to 
study the early evolution of proto-planetary disks and their chances of 
survival in the harsh irradiated environments of OB class associations 
where most stars form.  A wavelength calibration observation was also 
taken.  The observations were completed as planned, and no anomalies were 
reported.

    1.9 Completed WF/PC-2 9118 (Tracing the Cosmic Expansion to z>1 with 
Type Ia Supernovae)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to observe type Ia supernovae in order to 
provide evidence for an accelerating universe.  The case for cosmic 
acceleration rests almost entirely on the observation that the observed SN 
Ia at z~0.5 are 0.25 magnitudes fainter than expected for a 
non-accelerating Universe.  It is proposed to follow five SN Ia in the 
range 0.95<z<1.2 using the 850LP filter.  When combined with a ground-based 
J-band follow-up campaign, the proposers can expect to measure the mean 
luminosity distance of the sample at z~ 1.05 to better than 5.  At these 
redshifts, the effect of Omega_Lambda has all but vanished and the Universe 
was decelerating due to its known matter content.  Because any simple 
systematic error will deviate substantially from the non-monotonic effect 
of a Omega_Lambda > 0 cosmology, this experiment is a powerful and 
straightforward way to assess the reliability of the SN Ia 
measurements.  In addition, if SN Ia are reliable standard candles, the 
proposed observations will significantly increase the precision with which 
Omega_Lambda and Omega_M are measured.  There was no reported anomalous 
activity.

    1.10 Completed Nine Sets of STIS/CCD 8910 (Sparse Field CTE 
Test-Internal {Cycle 10})

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to perform 
CTE measurements that are made using the "sparse field test", along both 
the serial and parallel axes.  This program needs special commanding to 
provide {a} off-center MSM positionings of some slits, and {b} the ability 
to read out with any amplifier {A, B, C, or D}.  No problems were encountered.

    1.11 Completed Three 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.

2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:

    2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions:
       Scheduled Acquisitions:  6
Successful:  6

  Scheduled Re-acquisitions: 10
Successful: 10

    2.2 FHST Updates:
Scheduled: 13
Successful: 13

    2.3 Operations Notes:

        The SSR EDAC error counter was cleared at 325/0133Z per ROP SR-1A.

        A TTR was generated when a re-transmit was required at 325/024215Z 
during a NSSC-1 load.  Accordingly, at 325/0244Z, using ROP NS-5, SI C&DH 
errors were reset.

        The SSR-3 pointer was set at 325/0320Z as directed by ROP SR-3.

3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS:

        Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations.

/CAW