Enhancing Science with a Hubble Legacy Archive

The Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI), in collaboration with the European Coordinating Facility (ECF) and the Canadian Astronomy Data Centre (CADC), is studying the development of an enhanced archive for the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). The primary image enhancements include: 1) making HST data VO compatible, 2) improving the science products for the legacy instruments (e.g., providing CR-rejected multidrizzled images for the WFPC2), 3) providing `real time' access to the data (i.e., having the data online), 4) providing more extensive `composite images' (e.g., stacked images, mosaics, ...), 5) improving absolute astrometry (i.e., from 1 to 2 arcsec to ~0.2 arcsec), 6) adding a footprint service to make it easier to browse and download images, 7) adding a cutout service for super-fast access, 8) developing source catalogs for many datasets. Enhancements for spectral products (e.g., grism extractions) are being developed for future release. A general outline of the project will be provided, the system architecture will be described, and the numerous opportunities for applying existing software, frameworks, and standards (e.g., VO) will be noted.