HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE

       DAILY REPORT #3010

PERIOD COVERED:  0000Z (UTC) 12/03/01 - 0000Z (UTC) 12/04/01

Daily Status Report as of 338/0000Z

1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED:

    1.1 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1/MA2 9181 (Exploratory Observations of a New 
Bright Quasar)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD, MA1 and MA2) was 
used to observe a new, extremely bright quasar that is the second brightest 
optical object in the sky.  Optically classified as a Narrow-line Seyfert 1 
galaxy {NLS1}, PHL 1811 is not typical of this class of objects because it 
is a very weak X-ray source.  This proposal will perform short exploratory 
UV spectroscopic observations of this new bright quasar that will reveal 
its true nature and permit identifcation of potential applications of 
future deeper observations.  There were no reported problems.

    1.2 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.

    1.3 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2 8937 (Cycle 9 Supplemental Darks pt2/3)

        The WF/PC-2 was used obtain three dark frames every day to provide 
data for monitoring and characterizing the evolution of hot pixels.  No 
problems were encountered.

    1.4 Completed Three Sets of WF/PC-2 8940 (Cycle 10 Earth Flats)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to monitor flatfield stability by obtaining 
sequences of Earth streak flats to construct high quality flat fields for 
the WF/PC-2 filter set.  These flat fields will allow mapping of the OTA 
illumination pattern and will be used in conjunction with previous internal 
and external flats to generate new pipeline superflats.  The proposal 
completed without incident.

    1.5 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.

    1.6 Completed STIS/CCD 9055 (Direct Detection of an Extrasolar Planet 
in Reflected Light)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to observe 
HD 209458B that is the first extrasolar planet known to transit the disk of 
its parent star.  It is proposed to detect directly the gas giant planet 
orbiting HD 209458 in reflected light by observing the secondary eclipse, 
i.e. when the planet is occulted by the star.  There were no reported 
anomalies.

    1.7 Completed Four 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.

    1.8 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.

    1.9 Completed STIS/CCD 8900 (Performance Monitor)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to measure 
the baseline performance and commandability of the CCD subsystem.  All 
exposures are internals.  The observations completed normally.

    1.10 Completed Two Sets of 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.

    1.11 Completed Four 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.  The observations were completed as planned, and no 
anomalies were reported.

    1.12 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.

    1.13 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.

2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:

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

  Scheduled Re-acquisitions:  8
Successful:  8

    2.2 FHST Updates:
Scheduled: 18
Successful: 18

    2.3 Operations Notes:

        The CCS engineering status buffer (ESB) limits were adjusted at 
337/1111Z.  Then, the ESB buffer was dumped and cleared at 337/1345Z.  ROP 
DF-18A was used for both exercises.

        Using ROP SR-1A, the SSR EDAC error counter was cleared at 
337/1348Z and at 338/0247Z.

        The ephemeris table was uplimked at 338/0022Z per ROP DF-07A.

3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS:

        Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations.

/CAW