BARREL SSPC: Bremsstrahlung X-ray Spectra from Balloon Campaigns

256-channel X-ray spectrometer data collected by the BARREL mission's stratospheric balloons. The NASA mission launched over 50 balloons from Antarctica and Sweden between 2013 and 2016 to study electron precipitation from Earth's radiation belts. The Level 2 data provides slow time resolution (32 s) spectra covering an energy range from 0 MeV to 10 MeV.

Use Cases

• Study spatial and temporal variations of electron precipitation based on multi-balloon constellation data
• Characterize the spatial scale of precipitation at relativistic energies based on the mission's stated purpose
• Correlate X-ray spectra with in-situ plasma wave and particle measurements from the Van Allen Probes
• Analyze ULF-timescale magnetic field variations using the co-located DC magnetometer data mentioned in the description

Strengths

• Data from over 50 stratospheric balloon launches across four campaigns
• 256 spectral channels provide detailed energy resolution from 0 MeV to 10 MeV
• Coordinated measurements with the Van Allen Probes mission and other ground/space instruments

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

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

Time Range

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

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 04:14:38.893395; freshness should be verified

Geography

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