1.1 Completed Three Sets of STIS/CCD 8845 (Spectroscopic Flats C9)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to obtain CCD flats in the spectroscopic mode. The observations completed with no reported problems.

1.2 Completed WF/PC-2 8719 (A Continuation Of A Snapshot Survey Of X- Ray Selected Central Cluster Galaxies)

The WF/PC-2 was used to perform snapshot images of a representative subset of the central cluster galaxies from an X-ray selected cluster sample that would provide important constraints on the formation and evolution of dust in cluster cores that cannot be obtained from ground-based observations. The observations completed as planned.

1.3 Completed Twelve Sets of STIS/CCD 9248 (Probing the Large Scale Structure: Cosmic Shear Observations)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to measure the distortion of light bundles from distant galaxies that probe the statistical properties of the intervening inhomogeneous {dark} matter distribution. Its tidal gravitational field distorts the observable image shapes thereby causing a coherent ellipticity pattern {Cosmic Shear}. The observations completed nominally.

1.4 Completed Three Sets of STIS/CCD 8864 (CCD Dark Monitor-Part 2)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to monitor the darks for the CCD. The proposal completed nominally.

1.5 Completed Four Sets of WF/PC-2 8828 (Cycle 9 Supplemental Darks pt3/3)

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 proposal completed with no reported problems.

1.6 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2 8599 (A Census of Nuclear Star Clusters in Late-Type Spiral Galaxies)

The WF/PC-2 was used to conduct an I-band snapshot survey of a well-defined sample of nearby, face-on spiral galaxies of type Scd or later. The proposal completed nominally.

1.7 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2 8812 (Cycle 9 Internal Monitor)

The WF/PC-2 was used to obtain routine internal monitors for WFPC2 in order to monitor the health of the cameras. A variety of internal exposures are obtained in order to provide a monitor of the integrity of the CCD camera electronics in both bays {gain 7 and gain 15}, a test for quantum efficiency in the CCDs, and a monitor for possible buildup of contaminants on the CCD windows. There were no reported problems.

1.8 Completed STIS/MA1 8658 (Atmospheric Escape and the D/H Ratio in Mars' Atmosphere)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (MA1) was used to observe the highly extended upper atmosphere and the UV airglow of Mars that have not been studied by any in situ spacecraft since Mariner 9 in 1972. At the same time, one of the main elements of NASA's space science program today is the study of Mars and how it has evolved over time to a hostile environment, compared with the favorable conditions on the Earth. The availability of long aperture spatially resolved UV spectra with STIS makes it possible to obtain unique information on the extended upper atmosphere of Mars by mapping the H and O dayglow emissions with altitude above the limb. It is proposed to make these observations just before Mars opposition near the end of HST cycle 9. Initial modeling indicates that we will have sufficient angular resolution and sensitivity to measure the scale heights of the suprathermal atom populations of H and O atoms. We also propose to determine accurate values for the D and H columns, and the D/H ratio, in the upper atmosphere of Mars. The present-day D/H ratio gives vital information leading to understanding the evolution of Mars' atmosphere, the historic escape of water into space, and potentially the remaining water abundance on Mars. The observations completed with no problems.

1.9 Completed Two Sets of STIS/CCD 8865 (Bias Monitor-Part 2)

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. The proposal completed with no anomalous activity.

1.10 Completed STIS/CCD 8667 (Nuclear Stellar Disks in Early Galaxies: Black Hole Masses and Disk/Bar/Bulge Evolution)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to image of an additional four E/SO galaxies to: {1} test whether the unusual M_bh/M_bulge ratio is typical of these nuclear disk galaxies and {2} search for additional ring/bar structures will help determine the source of the accreted material and the time sequence of the disk/bar/bulge/Black Hole fueling connection. The observations completed with no reported anomalies.

1.11 Completed STIS/CCD/MA2 8672 (Establishing the Gaseous Phases of Galaxies Following the Epoch of Star Formation)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA2) was used in an ambitious program designed to: {1} establish if high ionization, metal-rich halos/coronae were in place as early as z~1, which would imply that extended, early-epoch, galactic halos result from reprocessed galactic gas and that the kinematics are mechanically driven; {2} obtain the first comparison of the relative kinematics of low and high ionization species in z~1 galaxies, covering a wide range of N{HI} environments and MgII kinematic spreads up to ~400 km/s; {3} discriminate between single-phase and multi-phase ionization, and therefore spatial, absorbing structures {eg. MgII clouds embedded in diffuse high ionization halos}; and {4} place constraints on the gas-phase metallicites in early-epoch galaxies. The observations complete with no reported problems.

1.12 Completed 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.

1.13 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 8582 (UV Detectability of Bright Quasars in the Sloan Fields)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used to examine the He II Ly alpha absorption at 304{1+z} Angstrom which is a far more sensitive tracer of the intergalactic medium {IGM} than its H I counterpart. The recent detections of such absorption in four quasars, albeit with limited data quality and a small sample size, demonstrate the great potential of such a probe. There were no reported problems.

1.14 Completed S/C 5582 (FOC/48 Monthly Activation (Camera Section Only): Cycle 4)

This proposal was executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted.

1.15 Completed WF/PC-2 8591 (The Smallest Nuclear Black Holes)

The WF/PC-2 was used to observe small nuclear black holes which are the last major unexplored part of BH parameter space, searching for the smallest BHs that HST can possibly find. The proposal completed with no reported anomalies.

1.16 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.

1.17 Completed STIS/CCD 8840 (Read Noise Monitor)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to measure the read noise of all the amplifiers 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 1 x 1, 1 x 2, 2 x 1 and 2 x 2. All exposures are internals. The observations completed with no reported problems.

1.18 Completed WF/PC-2 9149 (The Nature Of The Most Luminous Star- Forming Galaxies In The Redshift Range 0.4 To 1.5)

The WF/PC-2 was used to perform additional ISO deep surveys that have previously uncovered a population of galaxies which are making stars at the fantastic rate of > 100 M_odotyr^-1 in the redshift range from 0.4 to 1.5. However this population evolves rapidly and luminous star-forming galaxies are 5 to 10 times more numerous at z=1 than today. Combination of ISO data with radio {VLA}, sub-mm {SCUBA} and optical data shows that they contribute a major fraction {30-50$ representing only a few percent of the field galaxy population. HST imaging of a small subsample of these galaxies indicates that most of them are disks showing disrupted morphologies or possessing companions, emphasizing the role of merging in their star formation history. The proposal completed without incident.

1.19 Completed WF/PC-2 8824 (Decontaminations and Associated Observations Pt. 3/4)

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, & darks}, UV throughput check, VISFLAT sweep, and internal UV flat check. There were no reported problems.

2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:

2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions:
Scheduled Acquisitions: 7
Successful: 7

Scheduled Re-acquisitions: 11
Successful: 11

2.2 FHST Updates:
Scheduled: 5
Successful: 5

2.3 Operations Notes:

Using ROP SR-1A, the SSR EDAC error counter was cleared three times.

As directed by ROP DF-07A, the ephemeris table was uplinked at 135/1017Z.

The STIS MCE-2 reset at 135/033950Z while the low voltage was on and while outside any SAA interval. The STIS flight software error counter was cleared at 135/0446Z per ROP NS-12. MAMA-2 was recovered via normal SMS commanding at 135/0418Z.

3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS:

Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations.

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