BARREL 1A: Bremsstrahlung X-ray Spectra from Balloon Campaigns for Radiation Belt Studies

Four channels of fast time resolution (50 ms) Bremsstrahlung X-ray spectra detected with a NaI Scintillator, covering an energy range from 0 MeV to 1.5 MeV. The BARREL Mission was a NASA Living with a Star Mission of Opportunity, launching over 50 stratospheric balloons from Antarctica (2013-2014) and Sweden (2015-2016) to study electron losses from Earth's Radiation Belts. Data was collected at stratospheric altitudes near the antarctic and arctic circles to provide measurements of relativistic electron precipitation.

Use Cases

• Modeling radiation belt electron loss processes based on bremsstrahlung X-ray measurements.
• Analyzing temporal variations in electron precipitation at 50 ms resolution.
• Characterizing the spatial scale of relativistic energy precipitation using multi-balloon constellation data.
• Correlating balloon-based X-ray spectra with in-situ plasma wave and particle measurements from the Van Allen Probes.
• Studying ULF-timescale magnetic field variations in coordination with ground-based radar systems like EISCAT.

Strengths

• Provides 50 ms fast time resolution across four spectral channels (FSPC1-FSPC4).
• Data collected from over 50 balloon flights across four campaigns spanning 2013 to 2016.
• Mission was designed to coordinate with comprehensive in-situ measurements from the Van Allen Probes mission.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data files are in specialized formats (BIN, PDF, TEXT, HTML) which may require specific tools for processing.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Measured by X-ray spectrometers and DC magnetometers carried on stratospheric balloons.

Time Range

Campaigns conducted in 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 14:23:13.571307; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Balloon launches from Halley Bay and SANAE IV base in Antarctica, and Esrange Space Center in Kiruna, Sweden.