HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE DAILY REPORT #2331 PERIOD COVERED: 0000Z (UTC) 03/17/99 - 0000Z (UTC) 03/18/99 Daily Status Report as of 077/0000Z 1.0 ACTIVITIES SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED: 1.1 Completed WF/PC-2 7431 (Snapshot Survey of Microlensed Source Stars) The WF/PC-2 was used to make snapshot survey images of microlensed source star MACHO-153. Gravitational microlensing surveys have revealed an excess of lensing events over theoretical predictions toward both the Large Magellanic Cloud and the Galactic Bulge. The observations were completed as planned, and no anomalies were reported. 1.2 Completed Three Sets of STIS/CCD 7948 (CCD Dark and Bias Monitor -- Cont. to Dec. 98) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to measure CCD dark current and bias rates for the two supported amplifier settings {GAIN=1 and GAIN=4} in order to gather data for making superdarks and superbiases. The data will be used to track the growth of hot pixels on the CCD in general and within the various target acquisition apertures specifically. The observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted. 1.3 Completed Three Sets of WF/PC-2 7713 (WF/P-2 Cycle 7 Supplemental Darks pt3/3) The WF/PC-2 was used to make supplemental dark calibration images. This dark calibration program obtains three dark frames every day to provide data for monitoring and characterizing the evolution of hot pixels. The observations were completed as planned, and no anomalies were noted. 1.4 Completed STIS/CCD 7297 (Understanding the Red Rectangle and its Central Binary HD 44179) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to make observations of the Red Rectangle and its central binary star HD44179. The Red Rectangle is one of the nearest and best known of the proto-planetary nebulae. A wavelength calibration observation was also taken. The observations were completed as planned, and no problems were reported. 1.5 Completed Six Sets of STIS/CCD 8091 (POMS Test Proposal: STIS Non-Scripted Parallel Proposal Continuation) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to make high galactic latitude, non-scripted, parallel observations. The observations were completed as planned, and no anomalies were noted. 1.6 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2 8053 (WF/PC-2 Cycle-7 Earth Flats -- Part II) The WF/PC-2 was used to take Earth flat calibration images. This proposal obtains sequences of Earth streak flats to construct high quality flat fields for the WF/PC-2 filter set. The observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted. 1.7 Completed STIS/CCD 8393 (POMS Test Proposal: STIS Non-Scripted Parallel Proposal Continuation IV) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to make POMS, non-scripted, low galactic latitude observations made in parallel with the prime science observations. The observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted. 1.8 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2 6357 (The Nuclear Morphology of Elliptical Galaxies) The WF/PC-2 was used to make images of the early type, large, elliptical galaxies NGC-4128 and NGC-4648 (taken from a list of 150 galaxies) in order to study its nuclear morphology. This survey will complement Illingworth's snapshot study of later Hubble types. The observations were completed as scheduled, and no anomalies were reported. 1.9 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2 6967 (Blue Continuum Snapshots of 3CR Radio - Continued Galaxies) The WF/PC-2 was used to make observations of the radio galaxies 3C129.0 and 3C254.0. Radio galaxies are an important class of extragalactic objects: they represent one of the most energetic astrophysical phenomena and they may be used as probes of their environments. They are unique probes of the early Universe. The observations were completed as planned, and no problems were reported. 1.10 Completed STIS/CCD 7767 (Long Slit Spectroscopy of the Gravitational Lens Candidate C05.07) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to take low resolution spectra of the gravitationally lensed quasar candidate C05.07 {z=2.37, R=17.3}, identified on the basis of a systematic optical survey for gravitational lenses among highly luminous quasars, conducted at ESO. The proposal completed as planned with no problems. 1.11 Completed WF/PC-2 8090 (POMS Test Proposal: WF-II Parallel Archive Proposal Continuation) The WF/PC-2 was used in the parallel mode to make some low galactic latitude archive observations. The program will be used to take parallel images of random areas of the sky. The observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted. 1.12 Completed WF/PC-2 6490 (Deep Imaging of Extended Optical Structure Around the Quasar 4C37.43) The WF/PC-2 was used to make deep images of the extended optical region around quasar 4C37.43 (aka, B2-1512+37). This quasar has the most luminous extended region of any low red shifted quasi-stellar source. The observations were completed as planned, and no problems were reported. 1.13 Completed Three Sets of WF/PC-2 7495 (Survey of Gravitational Lenses as Cosmological Tools) The WF/PC-2 was used to make survey observations of object SBS0909+52 by obtaining deep, high-resolution images in the optical and near IR in order to see if they are gravitational lensed and could be used as a cosmological tool. The observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted. 2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY 2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions: Scheduled Acquisitions : 6 Successful : 6 Scheduled Reacquisitions : 10 Successful : 10 2.2 FHST Updates: Scheduled : 13 Successful : 13 2.3 Operations Notes: Using ROP SR-1, the SSR EDAC error counter was cleared twice. The STIS MCE-2 reset at 076/0938Z while the low voltage was on and while in an SAA interval. Recovery was accomplished by nominal SMS commanding. The STIS flight software error counter was cleared as directed by ROP NS-12. As documented in HSTAR 7059, the battery 6 recharge ratio flagged out of limits high at 1.25 (the limit is 1.25 when orbit day is less than 64 minutes). This occurred at 077/052739Z. Both the preceding and following orbits showed ratios of 1.02. The Gyro-3 drift rate bias slope is still above that needed to return Gyro-3 to the control loop. 3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS: A RMGA calibration test will be conducted today between 077/2131Z and 077/2345Z. Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations. /DMH