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16 April 2003

HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE

DAILY REPORT #3342

PERIOD COVERED: DOY 105

OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED

NICMOS/STIS CCD 9405

The Origin of Gamma-Ray Bursts

The rapid and accurate localization of gamma-ray bursts {GRBs}
promised by a working HETE-2 during the coming year may well
revolutionize our ability to study these enigmatic, highly luminous
transients. We propose a program of HST and Chandra observations to
capitalize on this extraordinary opportunity. We will perform some of
the most stringent tests yet of the standard model, in which GRBs
represent collimated relativistic outflows from collapsing massive
stars. NICMOS imaging and STIS CCD spectroscopy will detect broad
atomic features of supernovae underlying GRB optical transients, at
luminosities more than three times fainter than SN 1998bw. UV,
optical, and X-ray spectroscopy will be used to study the local ISM
around the GRB. Chandra spectroscopy will investigate whether the GRB
X-ray lines are from metals freshly ripped from the stellar core by
the GRB. HST and CTIO infra-red imaging of the GRBs and their hosts
will be used to determine whether `dark' bursts are the product of
unusually strong local extinction; imaging studies may for the first
time locate the hosts of `short' GRBs. Our early polarimetry and
late-time broadband imaging will further test physical models of the
relativistic blast wave that produces the bright GRB afterglow, and
will provide unique insight into the influence of the GRB environment
on the afterglow. 

NICMOS 9484

The NICMOS Parallel Observing Program

We propose to manage the default set of pure parallels with NICMOS.
Our experience with both our GO NICMOS parallel program and the
public parallel NICMOS programs in cycle 7 prepared us to make
optimal use of the parallel opportunities. The NICMOS G141 grism
remains the most powerful survey tool for HAlpha emission-line
galaxies at cosmologically interesting redshifts. It is particularly
well suited to addressing two key uncertainties regarding the global
history of star formation: the peak rate of star formation in the
relatively unexplored but critical 1<= z <= 2 epoch, and the amount
of star formation missing from UV continuum-based estimates due to
high extinction. Our proposed deep G141 exposures will increase the
sample of known HAlpha emission- line objects at z ~ 1.3 by roughly
an order of magnitude. We will also obtain a mix of F110W and F160W
images along random sight-lines to examine the space density and
morphologies of the reddest galaxies. The nature of the extremely red
galaxies remains unclear and our program of imaging and grism
spectroscopy provides unique information regarding both the incidence
of obscured star bursts and the build up of stellar mass at
intermediate redshifts. In addition to carrying out the parallel
program we will populate a public database with calibrated spectra
and images, and provide limited ground- based optical and near-IR
data for the deepest parallel fields.

ACS 9649

ACS internal CTE monitor

The charge transfer efficiency {CTE} of the ACS CCD detectors will
decline as damage due to on-orbit radiation exposure accumulates.
This degradation will be closely monitored at regular intervals,
because it is likely to determine the useful lifetime of the CCDs.
All the data for this program is acquired using internal targets
{lamps} only, so all of the exposures should be taken during Earth
occultation time {but not during SAA passages}. This program
emulates the ACS pre-flight ground calibration and post-launch SMOV
testing {program 8948}, so that results from each epoch can be
directly compared. Extended Pixel Edge Response {EPER} and First
Pixel Response {FPR} data will be obtained over a range of signal
levels for both the Wide Field Channel {WFC}, and the High Resolution
Channel {HRC}.

ACS 9673

CCD Daily Monitor

This program consists of basic tests to monitor, the read noise, the
development of hot pixels and test for any source of noise in ACS CCD
detectors. This programme will be executed once a day for the entire
lifetime of ACS 

WFPC2 9709

POMS Test Proposal: WFII parallel archive proposal

used to take paralell images of random areas of the sky, following
the recommendations of the 2002 Parallels Working Group.

FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:

Significant Spacecraft Anomalies:
(The following are preliminary reports of potential non-nominal
performance that will be investigated.)

HSTARs:
None

COMPLETED OPS REQs:
None

OPS NOTES EXECUTED:
None

                          SCHEDULED     SUCCESSFUL    FAILURE TIMES
FGS GSacq                     5             5
FGS REacq                     8             8
FHST Update                  10            10
LOSS of LOCK

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