HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE

       DAILY REPORT #3015

PERIOD COVERED:  0000Z (UTC) 12/10/01 - 0000Z (UTC) 12/11/01

Daily Status Report as of 345/0000Z

1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED:

    1.1 Completed Three 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.

    1.2 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 9185 (UV Spectroscopic Investigation of any 
Bright, Newly Discovered Comet)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA2) was used to 
execute a target-of-opportunity program to investigate any bright comet 
that is newly discovered during Cycle 10, including comets of any dynamical 
class.  The main scientific objective is to obtain accurate abundance 
measurements for several key cometary species: CO from the CO 4PG bands, 
cotwo from the CO Cameron bands, stwo from the stwo B-X bands, cstwo from 
CS emissions, and water from OH emissions.  The UV Cameron band emission is 
currently the only way to probe cotwo in comets.  The high sensitivity and 
long-slit capability of STIS will allow characterization of the spatial 
distribution of the coma species, so that we can identify those derived 
from an extended source {e.g. CO}, study the decay of short-lived molecules 
{e.g. stwo and cstwo}, compare the dust and gas spatial distributions, and 
investigate the importance of e-impact on CO for the excitation of the 
Cameron bands {the latter for any comet having mboxV<=sssim5.  There were 
no reported anomalies.

    1.3 Completed Two Sets of 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.

    1.4 Completed Five 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 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 FGS/1 9089 (Parallaxes of Cataclysmic Variables: 
Understanding Their Peculiar Secondary Stars)

        Fine Guidance Sensor #1 was used to measure precise parallaxes for 
three additional CVs {WZ Sge, RU Peg, and YZ Cnc}, whose orbital periods 
span a much larger range than explored in previous observations, allowing 
examination of how the accretion luminosity and secondary star change with 
orbital period.  There were no problems.

    1.7 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.

    1.8 Completed 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.

    1.9 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.

    1.10 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.

    1.11 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.

    1.12 Completed WF/PC-2 8059 (POMS Test Proposal: Targeted Parallel 
Archive Proposal)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to observe the parallel opportunities 
available in the neighborhood of bright galaxies are treated in a slightly 
different way from the normal pure parallels.  Local Group galaxies offer 
the opportunity for a closer look at young stellar 
populations.  Narrow-band images in F656N can be used both to identify 
young stars via their emission lines, and to map the gas distribution in 
star-forming regions.  The observations completed nominally.

    1.13 Completed STIS/CCD 9077 (Survey of the LMC Planetary Nebulae)

        The Space telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to perform 
a snapshot survey of all known LMC planetary nebulae {PNe} in order to 
study the co-evolution of the nebulae and their central stars, and to probe 
the chemical enrichment history of the LMC.  There were no reported problems.

    1.14 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 8139 (Probing an Ancient Thermonuclear 
Runaway on a White Dwarf in a Dwarf Nova)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used to 
probe the ancient thermonuclear runaway on a white dwarf.  Evidence was 
unexpectedly discovered, based upon two GHRS G160M spectra, of greatly 
elevated abundances of odd-numbered nuclei Phosphorus and Aluminum, as well 
as a Nitrogen-to-Carbon ratio of 10 in the photosphere of the white dwarf 
in the dwarf nova VW Hyons.  This proposal intends to {1} determine the 
first chemical abundances of many odd-numbered proton capture species; {2} 
determine a accurate mass for the white dwarf and; {3} probe changes in the 
accretion belt and surface abundances as a function of time since a 
superoutburst.  The proposal completed nominally.

    1.15 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.

2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:

    2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions:
       Scheduled Acquisitions:  9
    Successful:  9

  Scheduled Re-acquisitions:  5
    Successful:  5

    2.2 FHST Updates:
    Scheduled: 19
    Successful: 19

    2.3 Operations Notes:

        There was a STIS EMC re-try at 344/2028Z.  At 344/2050Z, the STIS 
flight software error counter was cleared per ROP NS-12.

        A TTR was written when there was a required re-transmit during a 
NSSC-1 load at 344/2054Z.  Accordingly, at 344/2102Z, using ROP NS--5, SI 
C&DH errors were reset.

        A Gen Slew was generated at 344/2232Z for proposal 9110.

        Using ROP DF-07A, the ephemeris table was uplinked at 345/0011Z.

        The SSR-1 EDAC error counter was cleared at 345/0705Z per ROP SR-1A.

3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS:

        Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations.

/CAW