BARREL 2F: Bremsstrahlung X-ray Spectra from Stratospheric Balloons

The BARREL mission collected data from balloon campaigns in 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016. It provides 256-channel, 32-second resolution Bremsstrahlung X-ray spectra from NaI scintillators on stratospheric balloons, designed to study electron precipitation from Earth's radiation belts. The mission was a NASA Living with a Star Mission of Opportunity coordinated with the Van Allen Probes.

Use Cases

• Analyze electron precipitation events based on 32-second resolution X-ray spectra
• Study spatial and temporal variations of radiation belt losses based on balloon constellation data
• Characterize the spatial scale of relativistic electron precipitation based on multi-balloon measurements
• Correlate precipitation events with in-situ plasma wave and particle data from the Van Allen Probes

Strengths

• Data collected from over 50 stratospheric balloon flights across four campaigns
• Spectra cover a nominal energy range from 0 MeV to 10 MeV across 256 channels
• First balloon measurements of relativistic electron precipitation coordinated with comprehensive in-situ measurements

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 launched from Antarctica and Sweden.

Time Range

Campaigns conducted in January-February 2013 and 2014, and August 2015 and 2016.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 03:54:05.694849; freshness should be verified

Geography

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