HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE DAILY REPORT #3024 PERIOD COVERED: 0000Z (UTC) 12/21/01 - 0000Z (UTC) 12/27/01 Daily Status Report as of 361/0000Z 1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED: 1.1 Completed Eleven 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. 1.2 Completed Fourteen 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 reported. 1.3 Completed Sixteen 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. 1.4 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2 8867 (Gamma-Ray Bursts: Discovering The Progenitors And Understanding The Explosion - Visits A0-R0) The WF/PC-2 was used to observe a gamma-ray burster, GRB010921. Gamma-ray burst astronomy, one of the most active and exciting frontiers in astrophysics, is now entering a critical stage -- with dramatic leaps in understanding of these events, as well as new discoveries. Improvements in triggering and positioning accuracy provided by the SAX and HETE-2 gamma-ray satellites will allow entirely new classes of events to be studied. Given the recent progress in this field, the proposers are now in a position to design precision, broadband measurements that can provide quantitative information on the as-yet unknown energy sources, the explosion geometry, and the surrounding medium. In particular, the growing evidence of an intimate connection between SNe and GRBs can be definitively tested. The proposal completed with no reported problems. 1.5 Completed Seven 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. 1.6 Completed Five 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 Two Sets of STIS/CCD 9136 (T Tauri Star Coronagraphic Survey: A PMS Protoplanetary Disk Census) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to observe pre-main sequence solar-mass stars, the T Tauri stars that Millimeter and IR studies suggest at least 50 percent have circumstellar disks similar to the disk from which our planetary system formed. High spatial resolution, high dynamic range imaging of such systems will map the spatial distribution of material around the star, constraining the disk sizes and inclinations, and provide a first assessment of when structure in the disk, such as cleared central zones and annuli, which has been linked to planet formation, develops. All observations completed without incident. 1.8 Completed Seven 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. 1.9 Completed STIS/CCD 8908 (CCD Imaging Flats C10) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to investigate flat-field stability over a monthly period. The proposal completed with no reported problems. 1.10 Completed WF/PC-2 9072 (Dynamical Masses of White Dwarfs from Resolved Sirius-Like Binaries) The WF/PC-2 was used to observe resolved "Sirius-like'' systems containing hot white-dwarf companions of cooler main-sequence stars. It is proposed to image them annually in the UV. No anomalous activity was reported. 1.11 Completed Four Sets of 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. 1.12 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 9137 (Quasar Absorbers and Large Scale Structure) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used to perform spectroscopy of 15 bright quasars in a 22 square degree region that has well-sampled galaxy redshifts. No problems were encountered. 1.13 Completed Five Sets of 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. The observations completed nominally. 1.14 Completed STIS/CCD 8135 (Spectroscopy of Gravitational Lens Candidates from the HST Survey of BL Lac Objects) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to perform spectroscopic observations of two new gravitational lens candidates, 0502+675 and 1440+122. Each contains a double point source with separation of only 0.3 arcsec. In each case, a candidate for the lensing galaxy is also found. For 0502+675, a subsequent NICMOS H-band image shows that the two point sources have similar R-H colors. STIS long-slit spectra of each point source will determine whether these candidates are lenses and also measure the redshift of the possible lensing galaxy. No problems were encountered. 1.15 Completed STIS/CCD 9110 (A Search for Kuiper Belt Object Satellites) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to investigate whether the large number of collisions thought to have taken place in the primordial Kuiper belt suggest that many Kuiper belt objects {KBOs} could have suffered binary-forming collisions similar to that which formed the Pluto -- Charon binary. Detection of such KBO satellites would allow measurement of KBO masses, would help to understand the past collisional environment of the Kuiper belt, and would give a context to the otherwise unique-seeming formation of the Pluto -- Charon binary. The proposal completed with no reported problems. 1.16 Completed Two Sets of 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. 1.17 Completed Two Sets of STIS/CCD/MA1/MA2 9114 (SINS: The Supernova Intensive Study-- Cycle 10) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD, MA1 and MA2) was used to perform observations of supernova SN2002, a target-of-opportunity observation. No problems were encountered. 1.18 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 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. 1.19 Completed Eight 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. 1.20 Completed STIS/CCD 9312 (POMS Test Proposal: STIS Non-scripted Parallel Proposal Continuation IV) 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. 1.21 Completed WF/PC-2 8943 (SM3B Lyman Alpha Check: Pre-SM3B Baseline) The WF/PC-2 was used to provide a pre-SM3B baseline observation against which the post-SM3B measurements can be compared. GRW+70D5824 throughput measurements in UV filters and UV crossed with long-pass filters {to determine red leak contribution} will be used to indicate any drop in throughput at Lyman alpha, which could be due to contamination in the pick-off mirror {or primary/secondary mirror}. The proposal completed with no problems. 1.22 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 9036 (An Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Survey of Star-Forming Galaxies in the Local Universe) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used to perform a comprehensive STIS ultraviolet spectroscopic survey of star-forming galaxies in the local universe. The sample covers a broad range of morphologies, chemical composition, and luminosity. The observations will provide spectral coverage between 1200 and 3100 Angstrom, at a resolution of 100 to 200 kms and S/N of about 30. The data set will allow the proposers to document and quantify the effects of massive stars on the interstellar medium and to infer implications for the evolution of the host galaxies. The proposal completed with no problems. 1.23 Completed STIS/CCD/MA2 9051 (Identifying Damped Lyman-alpha Galaxies at z~1) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA2) was used to look for damped 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 1.24 Completed WF/PC-2 9319 (POMS Test Proposal: WFII Backup Parallel Archive Proposal II) The WF/PC-2 was used to execute a POMS test proposal, designed to simulate future scientific plans. The proposal completed without incident. 1.25 Completed STIS/CCD 9280 (X-Ray Imaging of GPS and CSS Quasars) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to conduct a survey of GPS and CSS radio-loud quasars, by studying their arcsecond structure in the X-rays, by searching for X-ray jets, and by searching for signatures of intermittent AGN activity. The proposal completed nominally. 1.26 Completed Eleven Sets of WF/PC-2 9318 (POMS Test Proposal: WFII Parallel Archive Proposal Continuation) The WF/PC-2 was used to perform the generic target version of the WFPC2 Archival Pure Parallel program. The program was used to take parallel images of random areas of the sky, following the recommendations of the Parallels Working Group. There were no problems. 1.27 Completed Two Sets of STIS/CCD 8905 (Read Noise Monitor) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to measure the read noise of all the amplifiers {A, B, C, D} on the STIS CCD using pairs of bias frames. Full frame and binned observations are made in both Gain 1 and Gain 4, with binning factors of 1x1, 1x2, 2x1 and 2x2. All exposures are internals. The proposal completed with no reported anomalies. 1.28 Completed STIS/CCD 8907 (Spectroscopic Flats C10) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to obtain CCD flats in the spectrographic mode. There were no reported problems. 1.29 Completed Two Sets of 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. 1.30 Completed S/C 5582 (FOC/48 Monthly Activation (Camera Section Only): Cycle This proposal was executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted. 1.31 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 9056 (Spectroscopic Imaging of the Atmosphere of Callisto) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used to obtain long-slit imaging ultraviolet spectra of Callisto, using the G140L grating, to study the interaction of the Jovian plasma environment with the tenuous carbon dioxide atmosphere of this icy satellite. The proposal completed nominally. 1.32 Completed FOC/96 7923 (FOC F/96 Turn-on) The Faint Object Camera (f/96) was used to take an internal flat and a dark to ensure that the 30-day limit for the FOC is not exceeded. The observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted. 1.33 Completed Three Sets of STIS/MA1/MA2 8920 (Cycle 10 MAMA Dark Measurements) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (MA1 and MA2) was used to perform the routine monitoring of the MAMA detector dark noise, and is the primary means of checking on health of the MAMA detectors systems through frequent monitoring of the background count rate. The proposal completed with no reported anomalous activity. 1.34 Completed FGS/1 9183 (Completing the Astrometric Orbit for a Pair of Pre-Main Sequence Low-Mass Stars) Fine Guidance Sensor #1 was used to resolve a visual binary that is part of the closest system of pre-main sequence stars, HD 98800. This system is 50 pc away and this binary has a period just under a year, meaning the separation is about 20 milliarcsec. The two stars have similar brightnesses. The goal is to determine an astrometric orbit which, when combined with radial velocity observations, leads to the first dynamically-determined masses for low-mass pre-main sequence stars. All observations completed normally. 1.35 Completed STIS/CCD 9143 (Spectrophotometry of Nearby Seyfert 2 Nuclei: Can We Eliminate the Seyfert 2 Class?) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to investigate Seyfert 2s that are distinguished by the absence of the broad emission lines characteristic of Seyfert 1s and more luminous QSOs. Are Seyfert 2s fundamentally different from Seyfert 1s and their brighter cousins? Or is the broad emission line region in Seyfert 2s simply suppressed by obscuring material as postulated by the unification model? If the latter model is correct, the weak broad emission lines in the Seyfert 2s may simply be overwhelmed by starlight from the circumnuclear region, particularly in the case of recent star formation. It is proposed to determine if all Seyfert 2s have {weak} broad emission line regions by obtaining long-slit STIS spectroscopy for a well-defined sample of 20 Seyfert 2s {3 archival, 17 new}. The observations completed with no anomalous activity. 1.36 Completed Two Sets of 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. 1.37 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 9179 (Calibrating Convection Efficiency With Quasi-Molecular Features In Magnetic White Dwarfs) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used to observe recently-discovered quasi-molecular absorption features of Lyman Alpha in UV spectra of magnetic white dwarfs taken with IUE. Hitherto, such features have only been known in non-magnetic objects where they offered a very accurate determination of the atmospheric parameters. There were no reported problems. 1.38 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. 1.39 Completed STIS/CCD 8867 (Gamma-Ray Bursts: Discovering The Progenitors And Understanding The Explosion - Visits A0-R0) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to observe a gamma-ray burster, GRB011211. Gamma-ray burst astronomy, one of the most active and exciting frontiers in astrophysics, is now entering a critical stage -- with dramatic leaps in understanding of these events, as well as new discoveries. Improvements in triggering and positioning accuracy provided by the SAX and HETE-2 gamma-ray satellites will allow entirely new classes of events to be studied. Given the recent progress in this field, the proposers are now in a position to design precision, broadband measurements that can provide quantitative information on the as-yet unknown energy sources, the explosion geometry, and the surrounding medium. In particular, the growing evidence of an intimate connection between SNe and GRBs can be definitively tested. The proposal completed with no reported problems. 1.40 Completed Three Sets of WF/PC-2 8932 (Decontaminations and Associated Observations Pt. 1/3) The WF/PC-2 was used for the monthly WFPC2 decons. Also included are instrument monitors tied to decons: photometric stability check, focus monitor, pre- and post-decon internals {bias, intflats, kspots, &and darks}, UV throughput check, VISFLAT sweep, and internal UV flat check. No problems were reported. 1.41 Completed STIS/CCD 9117 (Spatially Resolved Spectroscopy of Super Star Clusters in the M82 Starbursts) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to obtain spatially-resolved STIS spectroscopy of 20 clusters in M82's active starburst core and also in its ``fossil'' starburst region {of age >~ 200 Myr} as a means of tracing the history of star formation and its propagation. With the spatially-resolved spectra, the proposers will be able to study the internal structure of the clusters, evidence for internal mass segregation, their interaction with their surroundings {including M82's superwind}, and the character of the bright, diffuse non-cluster populations. No problems were reported. 1.42 Completed STIS/CCD 8626 (Spatially Resolved Spectroscopy) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to obtain spatially resolved, high resolution spectra of the z=3.911 BAL quasar, QSO-083142. All observations completed nominally. 1.43 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 9067 (UV Detectability of Bright Quasars in the Sloan Fields) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used to take MAMA spectra of approximately 30 new, bright, high-redshift quasars in each of the next three cycles. The observations completed with no reported problems. 1.44 Completed STIS/CCD 8589 (Orbital Structure and Black Hole in NGC 3379) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to observe the stellar orbital structure and the mass of the central black hole in NGC 3379. The proposal completed with no reported anomalies. 2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY: 2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions: Scheduled Acquisitions: 41 Successful: 41 Scheduled Re-acquisitions: 51 Successful: 51 2.2 FHST Updates: Scheduled: 101 Successful: 101 2.3 Operations Notes: Using ROP SR-1. the SSR-1 EDAC error counter was cleared eight times. ROP DF-18A was used on three occasions to update the engineering status buffer limits. A TTR was written for a "major local network problem" that occurred at 355/1809Z. Two LOR playbacks were required to recover science data. There was a STIS EMC re-try at 355/230640Z. The STIS flight software error counter was reset at 355/2359Z per ROP NS-12. Real time operations transferred to the GSFC MOR at 356/0300Z due to numerous CCS problems (HSTAR 8436). Operations returned to the STScI SIMOR at 356/2300Z. TTRs were written for required re-transmits at 356/0327Z and at 357/1846Z (during NSSC-1 loads), as well as another at 359/0941Z (during a 486 load). In the first two cases, NS-05 was used to reset SI C&DH errors and in the third, DF-18A was utilized to update the engineering status buffer limits. ROP SR-9A was used to clear the SSR-3 EDAC error counter at 357/1443Z. Per HSTARs 8438 and 8440, the STIS thermal shelf zone 3B temperature began breaking its limit intermittently (limit is 28.0 degC - the violation was 28.1 degC, except for a brief period from 358/000458Z to 358/000658Z when the temperature reached 28.7 degC) at 356/200456Z. The ephemeris table was uplinked at 359/0007Z per ROP DF-07A. An operations request was followed to perform a GenSlew at 360/1704Z. 3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS: Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations. /CAW