BARREL SSPC: Bremsstrahlung X-ray Spectra from Balloon Campaigns

BARREL 2W X-ray Spectrometer (SSPC) Bremsstrahlung X-ray Spectrum Slow Time Resolution, Level 2, 32 s Data provides 256-channel X-ray spectra from balloon-borne instruments. The BARREL mission, a NASA Living with a Star Mission of Opportunity, launched over 50 stratospheric balloons from Antarctica and Sweden between 2013 and 2016 to study electron precipitation from Earth's radiation belts. Data collection coordinated with the Van Allen Probes mission and other ground and space-based instruments.

Use Cases

• Analyze spatial and temporal variations of electron precipitation based on X-ray spectra from a balloon array
• Characterize the spatial scale of precipitation at relativistic energies based on multi-balloon campaign data
• Correlate balloon X-ray measurements with in-situ plasma wave and energetic particle data from the Van Allen Probes
• Study ULF-timescale magnetic field variations using the DC magnetometer data mentioned in the description

Strengths

• 256 spectral channels covering an energy range from 0 MeV to 10 MeV
• Data collected from over 50 balloon launches across four campaigns spanning 2013 to 2016
• Coordinated measurements with the Van Allen Probes mission and other instruments

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

Balloon-borne X-ray spectrometer and DC magnetometer measurements at stratospheric altitudes (~30 km)

Time Range

Campaigns conducted in 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 03:39:40.591283; freshness should be verified

Geography

Launches from Halley Bay (Antarctica), SANAE IV base (Antarctica), and Esrange Space Center (Kiruna, Sweden)