BARREL MSPC: Bremsstrahlung X-ray Spectra from Balloon Campaigns

BARREL MSPC provides 48-channel, 4-second resolution Bremsstrahlung X-ray spectra from balloon-borne instruments. The dataset was collected by NASA's BARREL mission during four campaigns from 2013 to 2016, launched from Antarctica and Sweden. It measures X-rays produced by precipitating relativistic electrons from Earth's radiation belts.

Use Cases

• Study electron losses from Earth's Radiation Belts based on X-ray spectra.
• Characterize spatial scales of relativistic electron precipitation based on balloon array observations.
• Correlate precipitation events with in-situ plasma wave and particle measurements from the Van Allen Probes.
• Analyze temporal variations of electron precipitation based on the 4-second time resolution data.

Strengths

• Data spans four campaigns from 2013 to 2016, providing multi-year coverage.
• Over 50 stratospheric balloons were launched across the campaigns.
• Provides the 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 carried on stratospheric balloons.

Time Range

2013 to 2016

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 03:40:18.190120; freshness should be verified.

Geography

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