BARREL 2P: Bremsstrahlung X-ray Spectra from Balloon Campaigns, 32 s Resolution

Antarctic and Arctic stratospheric balloon campaigns from 2013 to 2016 collected this data. The BARREL mission, a NASA Living with a Star project, measured 256-channel Bremsstrahlung X-ray spectra with a 32-second slow time resolution to study relativistic electron precipitation from Earth's radiation belts. Over 50 small stratospheric balloons were launched in coordination with the Van Allen Probes and other instruments.

Use Cases

• Modeling spatial scales of relativistic electron precipitation based on multi-balloon array measurements.
• Correlating X-ray spectral data with in-situ plasma wave and particle measurements from the Van Allen Probes.
• Studying temporal variations in electron losses using the 32-second resolution time-series data.
• Analyzing the relationship between magnetic field variations and X-ray emissions using the co-located DC magnetometer data.

Strengths

• Data covers four distinct balloon campaigns from 2013 to 2016, providing multi-year observations.
• Spectra cover a nominal energy range from 0 MeV to 10 MeV across 256 channels.
• Campaigns were coordinated with comprehensive in-situ measurements from the Van Allen Probes mission.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data files are in BIN, PDF, TEXT, and HTML formats, which may require specialized tools for processing.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

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

Time Range

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

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03 13 12:58:50.142276; freshness should be verified.

Geography

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