BARREL 2B Data Processing Unit (HKPG) Analog Housekeeping Voltage, Temperature, Current, a

BARREL 2B data provides housekeeping voltage, temperature, current, and payload status values recorded every 40 seconds from a stratospheric balloon payload. The BARREL mission was a NASA Living with a Star Mission of Opportunity, launching over 50 balloons from Antarctica and Sweden between 2013 and 2016 to study electron precipitation from Earth's radiation belts. This Level 2 dataset is processed from the nominal analog sensor layout, with notes advising users to contact the BARREL team for clarification on payload-specific sensor discrepancies.

Use Cases

• Monitoring instrument health and environmental conditions based on voltage, temperature, and current readings.
• Correlating payload status with scientific measurements of X-ray bremsstrahlung and magnetic field variations.
• Analyzing temporal variations in balloon operations over 40-second intervals during multi-year campaigns.
• Studying spatial and temporal scales of electron precipitation events in coordination with the Van Allen Probes mission.

Strengths

• Data is collected at a regular 40-second cadence, providing consistent time-series measurements.
• Mission involved over 50 balloon launches across four campaigns from 2013 to 2016.
• Dataset is part of a coordinated NASA mission designed to augment the Van Allen Probes.

Limitations

• Analog sensor data is based on a nominal layout; some payload-specific differences may not be reflected.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count and data volume are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Collected by X-ray spectrometers and DC magnetometers on approximately 20 kg stratospheric balloons at about 30 km altitude.

Time Range

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

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 13:32:16.627453; freshness should be verified.

Geography

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