HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE DAILY REPORT #2417 PERIOD COVERED: 0000Z (UTC) 07/19/99 - 0000Z (UTC) 07/20/99 Daily Status Report as of 201/0000Z 1.0 ACTIVITIES SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED: 1.1 Completed Two Sets of STIS/CCD 8408 (STIS CCD Dark Monitor C8) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to make a CCD bias calibration observation. This is to monitor the darks for the STIS CCD. The observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were reported. 1.2 Completed Five Sets of WF/PC-2 8442 (WF/PC-2 Cycle 8 Standard Darks) The WF/PC-2 was used to make a series of Cycle 8 standard dark calibration observations. This dark calibration program obtains 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. The observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted. 1.3 Completed Two Sets of STIS/CCD 8202 (Bright Quasar Close Lensing Search) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to make observations of HCLQ1148+5 and HCLQ2136+0 as part of a second generation survey to search for bright lensing quasars. With the restored PSF, new images will be considerably more sensitive to the presence of both close separation and faint lens components, and because STIS reaches two magnitudes fainter the PC, the new snapshot images will have much greater dynamic range. The observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted. 1.4 Completed STIS/CCD/MA2 7433 (UV Spectral Dating of Galaxies) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (MA2) was used to make ultraviolet spectrographic observations of HD107213 to calculate a highly accurate library of UV stellar spectra that can be used to estimate the age and metallicity of galaxies of intermediate age {between 1 and 8 Gyrs}. The critical step in this effort is to test the model spectra against high-quality UV spectra of real stars. A wave length calibration image was also taken. The observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted. 1.5 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. 1.6 Completed STIS/CCD 8409 (STIS CCD Bias Monitor C8) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to make a CCD bias calibration observation. This is 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 to track the evolution of hot columns. The observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were reported. 1.7 Completed STIS/CCD 7350 (Testing the Supermassive Black Hole Paradigm in Nearby Radio-Quiet AGNs) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to make observations of the radio-quiet active galactic nuclei NGC-4278. Obtaining a large sample of central engine mass determinations is a crucial first step toward understanding the physics of AGN central engines, including the puzzling difference between radio-loud and radio-quiet AGNs. A wavelength and a CCD flat calibration observation were also taken. The observations were completed as planned, and no anomalies were reported. 1.8 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2 8443 (WF/PC-2 Cycle-8 Supplemental Darks pt1/3) The WF/PC-2 was used to obtain 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 problems were reported. 1.9 Completed WF/PC-2 8538 (Hubble Heritage Observations of Hickson Compact Galaxy Group 87) The WF/PC-2 was used to make Hubble Heritage observations of the Hubble Compact Group #87. The sequence of star formation mapped spatially throughout this group may be the best opportunity to sequence the interplay between interactions and the different levels of star formation, acting from the tidal debris in through the central engines of these galaxies. The observations were completed as planned, and no anomalies were reported. 1.10 Completed STIS/CCD 8406 (POMS Test Proposal: STIS Non-Scripted Parallel Proposal Continuation V) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to make high galactic latitude observations taken in parallel with the prime science observations as part of a POMS proposal. This is a STIS non-scripted parallel Condition V proposal. The observations were completed as scheduled, and no anomalies were reported. 1.11 Completed WF/PC-2 8181 (Resolving Sirius-like Binaries) The WF/PC-2 was used to make observations of the star HR8210 in order to try and resolve these Sirius-like binary star systems. Subsequent determinations of the visual orbits of the resolved binaries with the HST will provide dynamical measurements of the white-dwarf masses. The observations were completed as scheduled, and no anomalies were reported. 1.12 Completed STIS/CCD 8271 (A Snapshot Survey of LMC Planetary Nebulae: A Study of Nebular and Late Stellar Evolution) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to make medium-resolution slitless spectroscopy snapshot images of the planetary nebulae located in the Large Magellanic Cloud to study the parallel evolution of the nebulae and their central stars. The observations were completed as planned, and no problems were reported. 1.13 Completed Two Sets of 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. 1.14 Completed STIS/CCD 8287 (A Search For Transparent Lines of Sight With Intergalactic He-II Obsorption Towards 26 Bright z > 2.9 Quasars) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to make He-II absorption line observations of quasar HE2249-503. The aim is to identify more suitable bright objects for detailed studies of intergalactic He-II absorption at a redshift of Z <2.9 and >3.2 . A wavelength calibration observation was also taken. The observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted. 1.15 Completed WF/PC-2 8019 (The Nuclear Region of NGC 4151) The WF/PC-2 was used to make ultraviolet and visible observations of the nuclear region of the Seyfert type galaxy NGC-4151. A wavelength calibration image was also taken. The observations were completed as planned, and no anomalies were reported. 2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY: 2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions: Scheduled Acquisitions : 7 Successful : 7 Scheduled Reacquisitions : 9 Successful : 9 2.2 FHST Updates: Scheduled : 15 Successful : 15 2.3 Operations Notes: Real-time spacecraft operations transferred to the SAMS backup facility from 200/1500Z until 200/1600Z due to the evacuation of Building 3. Once back in Building 3, the PRS1 was re-cycled at 201/0605Z due to a problem with history tape drives. Using ROP SR-1, the SSR EDAC error counter was cleared once. ESTR-2 was dumped at 200/2113Z to recover an engineering data gap from 200/0003Z to 200/0006Z. ROP RD-1 was utilized. Per ROP NS-3, the NSSC-1 status buffer was dumped at 201/0146Z. The SSR science playback pointer was set at 201/0502Z in order to recover STIS observational data, as directed by ROP SR-3. The NICMOS FPA temperature sensor for detector 3 was enabled at 201/0506Z. 3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS: Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations. /DMH