BARREL MSPC: Bremsstrahlung X-ray Spectra from Stratospheric Balloons

48 channels of medium time resolution, 4 s, Bremsstrahlung X-ray spectra detected with a NaI Scintillator, covering an energy range from 0 MeV to 4 MeV. The BARREL Mission was a NASA Living with a Star Mission of Opportunity designed to study electron losses from Earth's Radiation Belts, providing the first balloon measurements of relativistic electron precipitation. Over 50 stratospheric balloons were launched across campaigns from Antarctica (2013-2014) and Sweden (2015-2016), coordinated with the Van Allen Probes mission.

Use Cases

• Study electron losses from Earth's Radiation Belts based on X-ray spectrometer measurements
• Characterize the spatial scale of precipitation at relativistic energies based on balloon array observations
• Analyze temporal variations of electron precipitation based on 4-second time resolution spectra
• Correlate balloon-based precipitation data with in-situ plasma wave and particle measurements from Van Allen Probes

Strengths

• Data from over 50 stratospheric balloon launches across four campaigns
• Provides the first balloon measurements of relativistic electron precipitation alongside comprehensive in-situ measurements
• Coordinated observations with the Van Allen Probes mission and other ground and space-based 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 carried on stratospheric balloons.

Time Range

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

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 04:11:31.184497; freshness should be verified

Geography

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