BARREL 2M MSPC: Bremsstrahlung X-ray Spectra from Balloon Campaigns

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, launching over 50 stratospheric balloons from Antarctica and Sweden between 2013 and 2016. It provided measurements to study electron losses from Earth's Radiation Belts and augmented the Van Allen Probes mission.

Use Cases

• Studying electron precipitation from Earth's Radiation Belts based on bremsstrahlung X-ray measurements.
• Analyzing spatial and temporal variations of relativistic electron precipitation based on balloon constellation data.
• Characterizing the spatial scale of precipitation at relativistic energies based on the X-ray spectrometer data.
• Coordinating analysis with Van Allen Probes mission data based on the campaign timing and location.

Strengths

• Data collected from over 50 stratospheric balloon flights across four campaigns.
• Provides the first balloon measurements of relativistic electron precipitation alongside comprehensive in situ measurements.
• Campaigns were coordinated 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.
• Data may reflect geographic bias inherent to the Antarctic and Arctic launch locations.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

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

Time Range

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

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 03:46:01.028296; freshness should be verified.

Geography

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