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

Over 50 stratospheric balloon flights were conducted across four campaigns from 2013 to 2016, launched from Antarctica and Sweden. The dataset contains housekeeping voltage, temperature, current, and payload status values recorded every 40 seconds by the BARREL mission, a NASA Living with a Star investigation designed to study electron losses from Earth's radiation belts. Data was collected to augment the Van Allen Probes mission by measuring electron precipitation via X-ray spectrometers and DC magnetometers.

Use Cases

• Analyzing temporal variations in instrument health based on voltage and current readings.
• Studying correlations between payload status and environmental conditions based on temperature data.
• Characterizing the spatial scale of relativistic electron precipitation events based on the multi-balloon array design.
• Validating or augmenting in-situ satellite measurements from the Van Allen Probes mission based on the coordinated campaign design.

Strengths

• Data collected from over 50 balloon flights across four separate campaigns, providing multiple observational periods.
• Measurements are coordinated with other instruments, including the Van Allen Probes and EISCAT radar, enabling multi-instrument studies.
• Records are provided at a consistent 40-second sampling interval.

Limitations

• Analog sensor data is based on a nominal layout; some payload differences may not be reflected, requiring clarification from the BARREL team for specific sensor questions.
• 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

Recorded by instrumentation on small stratospheric balloons carrying X-ray spectrometers and DC magnetometers.

Time Range

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

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 13:17:46.480843; freshness should be verified.

Geography

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